As a certain Mr. Wong from wayyyy back in the day used to often say (exclaim) –

FO**!

Yes, that’s rightl He said it without the “U” – don’t ask me why, hehe.

Maybe that’s how they say the fabled four letter word in a different language, but it ain’t Chinese for sure, and neither is it any of the dialects spoken in the mainland

And as I break into the sort of “breathless” giggles – laughs – the sort you have when you’re really gasping for breath and when a six (soon to be 7) year old beats the heck out of you in kiddie movements (as she should, hehe), it reminded me of Mr. Wong’s words.

It also reminded me of how back in the day, when I was lifting weights, he used to grip my forearms and and comment on their size and strength.

And that, of course was pre-Gorilla Grip days.

Yes, that “infamous” incident when I fell out of a bus and a tennis player about 6’1” almost crushed my hand later, and acted like he didn’t mean to (sure he did, hehe) STUCK in my craw - - and ever since, I’ve worked my grip (and legs) with a passion second to NONE.

But this ain’t about grip is it.

It’s about ABS.

And my abs are SCREAMING right now with the kiddie version of a jump my daughter beat me at.

Admittedly, she cheated again, hehe, but she did better than yesterday! ?

And that’s what counts. Small, incremental improvements are how you do it, my friend – and how it’s done in terms of fitness. Biting off more than you chew rarely, if ever leads to frustrations ville and NO results.

What exactly is this sort of jump you ask?

Well, I revel all in Kiddie Fitness, so I won’t get into it here. After all, that’s what the book is for no?

But yeah, I WILL tell you one damn thing.

I didn’t just graduate to climbing that hill of mine, for instance, in 1 day. Or one week. Or even a month.

NO.

I worked up to it.

First, it was once every morning and evening thrice a week (with the morning being daily).

Then I hammered out two in the morning, and then three, and kept the one in the night . . .until it became two at night over the space of three weeks.

And beyond a certain point, I just started to FLY up the hill, and now, it barely seems like anything . .  .

And that’s how it should be for you too, my friend.

Start small. Build the momentum, keep it going. And build from THERE!

As an aside, it was interesting to see all the folks out there putting on masks as soon as they saw us approach.

. . . and through out workout outdoors (part of it, at least), they smiled on, and actually tried to join in.

All kudos, hehe.

And so much for this dumb ass, blasted COVID scare all over the globe.

Ah well. That’s that for now – I’ll be back soon!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

P.S. – Be sure and grab the 0 Excuses Fitness System (if you’re truly serious about fitness, and losing that muffin top that sticks out a mile in tight clothing, hehe) right here - https://0excusesfitness.com/0excusesfitnessystem/

Last year was a time I was guilty of not devoting as much time to this here business as I should have.

And for good reason in ONE way, I suppose. I was involved in a new venture at the end of 2018 which took off pretty quickly, but as they say and as a client from THAT job way back in the day once told me (I think I was 27 at the time, and my web development business, something I was into at that time was going OK).

“Good to know your business is going ok, Rahul! Far better to be slow and steady than be the rocket ship that takes off, crashes and burns . . . “

There was more, but that was the gist of it.

That client taught me a lot (I should say dealing with that client, actually) about life – sales- communication – and while a lot of my writing ability was obviously something I’ve honed myself as well as my unique style (as a subscriber recently pointed out) – SOME of my negotiation skills were learnt on the job – by negotiating with a person who was BETTER at it at that time than yours truly was, hehe.

Or was he?

He once told me,

“Rahul, you were the only one that could SELL me the project!”

‘Tis true, my friend. ‘Tis true and there are more details in the book right HERE.

Now, on to last year (again).

I was giving my friend Dwayne a bit of background on the fitness biz and he was giving me some real world useful pointers on it, which I gladly took on board.

Dawyne’s a sensible man that has been there and done that, and any advice he gives you has been “tempered” by the fires of life - - and you KNOW that if a man has been there and done it, and then talks about it (much like I myself do) then I’m more than willing to be the ear that listens and learns.

We never know everything . . .

Anyway, I was not devoting as much time as I should to this here business and Dwayne gave me this little bitty wisdom that slipped through the cracks as it were.

Just post something everyday, Rahul.

Even if you’re not really going full bore, that’s fine. Just keep posting, and eventually . . .

Curiously enough this was advice I was following FULL TIME since 2017 for 0 Excuses Fitness (and back in the day for rahulmookerjee.com) but yet, despite it having brought success, I “put it on the back burner” temporarily.

We often stop doing those very things that make us successful, my friend. In an insidious and “back door” manner (no pun intended) something else creeps up that takes center stage, then something else and something else, and before we know it, we forget that we’re not doing what we were cut out to do.

Napoleon Hill said the same thing when his inner voice told him he was being a stubborn student, and told him that the reason for his recurring disappointments were his lack of persistence in following through with what was truly his “mission in life”.

You have been a stubborn student! Learn this lesson once and for all, that you will find happiness only by helping OTHERS find it!

And there’s more to that story that I’ve gone over before so I wont get into it again now. Maybe another email.

Point being this.

Doings something everyday IS what it’s all about.

The little gains do add up over time.

PERSISTENCE, truly IS to man’s character what carbon is to STEEL!

And if there is one major quality that seperates the true achievers from the rest, it is this.

The SAME principle applies in terms of fitness.

I’ve often said that it’s like putting money into a bank account.

One excellent workout after the other. Or perhaps 5 excellent workouts in a week, and that one day you don’t “feel like it” you go light – feel great later – and you still put something in the bank.

You wouldn’t stop putting money in the bank would you?

Well, then why not do the same thing with fitness my friend?

Believe me, the gains DO add up over time – with compound interest at that!

And that’s today’s message. For more such wisdom – hark on over here and get the 0 Excuses Fitness System NOW.

No, it ain’t “free”. No, there aren’t any discounts (unless you’re really serious and in that case shoot me an email and we’ll see what we can do). But it’s stuff that WORKS, my friend. Truly does. For the doers only though, as I’ve said many times before!

Right here – https://0excusesfitness.com/0excusesfitnessystem/

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

P.S. – Have you checked out our latest product “16 Inspirational Fitness Recollections”? I almost forgot to tell you about that. Go right HERE to check it out - https://0excusesfitness.com/16-inspirational-fitness-recollections/

Often times when you buy products online (and this holds true especially for information products) you’re not entirely sure as to whether the person is actually “doing” what they’re saying, are you?

You’re not entirely sure if the life coach you’re considering buying a book from has truly “been in the trenches” – or if he just got lucky and one of his books was picked up and got famous, and . . .

And so forth.

Now yes, we all make our own luck but this is not about that. There are many variables that contribute to ultimate and true success, and to me, one of the main things to consider is has the person been beaten down REPEATEDLY – only for it to have no impact, and the person stands back up and KEEPS on KEEPING ON?

I know of very few such cases, my friend, and the ones I DO KNOW of are the ones that ultimately succeeded – and in a lasting manner, and how.

I do not know a single successful person, for instance, who was the first to line up at the government office for their stimulus checks – all the while complaining about Donald Trump and how he’s hurting the nation, and other associated nonsense (while sucking off the very teat that he is providing).

No this isn’t about politics, but I’ve found that a vast majority of the people that “give advice” do anyting but follow their own advice – themselves, and this is TRUE my friend for people across all spheres of life, not just fitness or “life coaching”.

Well, yours truly has certainy been in the trenches and then some, and if you’ve been following my writings, you KNOW what I’m talking about!

This morning I woke up feeling great, but as I proceeded with my work, something strange happened.

The “great” feeling disappeared.

Well, it didn’t disappear so much as fade away, as I read some news (something I usually never do unless I’m bored) and I was left with a “deflated” feeling.

There have been some things going on in my life right now from a personal standpoint too that are taking “somewhat” of a toll, and yet, when I looked at myself in the mirror and said what Claude Bristol said so many years ago, I told myself I will GET THROUGH THIS.

I’ll get through what is making me “irritated” (I suppose that is the right term) at this minute, and it will PASS.

I pictured past successes.

I pictured myself climbing my favorite HILL, and doing the things I LOVE in life.

And very soon, the “descending black cloud of doom and gloom” was replaced by a neutral cloud.

Not enough.

I paced around the room some.

Did some pep talking.

And then . . . . dropped down, and banged out a 100 Hindu squats, making sure to focus on the DEEP BREATHING aspect of it.

And now as I sit here a good 20 minutes or so later, I’m still dripping with sweat, and I’m ready to GET HER DONE!

And that’s how it should be for you too my friend.

Visualization plus physical exercise makes an UNBEATABLE combo – and that’s what today’s missive is about!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

P.S. – And when you’re looking for fakes, look past the mere WORDS of what theyre saying. As I keep telling my coaching group, mere words are one thing, but the FEELING behind the words can never ever be hidden my friend. And it’s true. More on this later, but if you’re looking to sign up for personal coaching where I get you in the very best shape of your life – both on a PHYSICAL and MENTAL level – well – sign up right HERE - https://0excusesfitness.com/coaching/

Depending on which “neck of the woods” you’re currently in, you are probably still feeling the effects of lockdown – if not IN LOCKDOWN as we speak.

And a lengthy ass lockdown at that, one that has done way more damage than people thought it would be.

When this lockdown first started in Wuhan in China, I was very vocal about saying that it was a case of “closing the door after the horse done bolted” way, way back last year.

No-one believed me, of course, but now as the facts come out (and to be fair, there were certain other people that said the same thing – Donald Trump being one, but all was roundly ignored in favor of the liberal “China tom tomming” that seems to be the rage in certain parts of the world – thankfully NOT in the ole US of A though), people are having second thoughts.

Hmm!

How hard is to THINK?

A virus that was very deliberately ignored (for reasons which are certainly outside the scope of this piece) and allowed to spread – and then you shut down cities and countries AFTER it’s spread – ALL over the world – and a virus that can be spread and carried by those with no symptoms?

Further, a virus where the VAST MAJORITY of people that have got it have – newsflash – RECOVERED.

And a virus where the number of deaths, though substantial pales in comparison to what happens EVERY YEAR – with – gasp – the common flu!

Do we shut down countries for the common flu?

Anyway, enough of the nonsense on all sides there.

As this madness continues, and countries supposedly start to come out of lockdown (but nigh on nothing is working normally anywhere, including mainland China for a long, long, long time) – lets talk about EXERCISE.

And getting the heebies from being confined at home for a long, long time – in the case of a country like India, over THREE months at the time of writing this.

In the case of China, a lengthy lockdown that never really ended . . .

And of course, physical fitness – and WEIGHT gain – and not being able to sleep – and all the rest of it.

Last night, I walked down to a convenience store WITHOUT a mask, braving the “stares” I got, hehe. I’m used to it as a foreign devil in China.

And I saw people outdoors exercising as usual – but with a mask.

How the heck one can breathe through a mask while exercising, I wondered.

And I picked up my own jump rope, and started to workout, but then something “took over”.

The atmosphere was one of FEAR.

Overwhelmingly NEGATIVE and not towards yours truly either, who is often spoken of being “as yellow as the Chinese” (don’t ask me, hehe).

And I went home – and did my post dinner workout at home.

What did I do?

First, a workout straight out of Kiddie Fitness.

Bear Crawls. Duck waddles. And the grand daddy of them all, something I’ll write about later, something that torches the average adult’s shoulders and upper chest within a second of so of getting into said post (if they can even GET INTO IT!) – the alligator crawl.

Believe me, though I’m in shape, that gave me a workout and a half, especially since I’d been writing all day long prior to that. (More on using time productively later, hehe).

And then it was time for some patented stretches – some straight out of 0 Excuses Fitness – and some straight out of Corrugated Core.

I was buzzing for a long, long time afterwards, and I worked until 4 AM or so, and woke up in the afternoon – on my time.

And that’s how it should be, my friend.

Cast the fear and irrational thoughts aside, and GO ABOUT YOUR OWN BUSINESS as usual!

Keep moving around, and working out, and staying HEALTHY. Chances are if you’re got a strong immune system this silly virus wouldn’t affect you EVEN if you came in contact with it (which is a FACT most people have either forgotten or conveniently choose to IGNORE).

And so forth, my friend.

While the world chooses to wallow in negativity, you do what you can to create – and attract – positivity to YOU.

And it will come, my friend – both in terms of workouts – and LIFE itself. Believe me now and trust me later, it WILL Come – if you just do the thing.

Anyway that’s all for this post. I’ll be writing about boxer pushups as promised on the other site soon – stay tuned!

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

P.S. – Grab the best home based fitness system there is right here (much needed during the madness going on everywhere) –https://0excusesfitness.com/0excusesfitnessystem/

P.S #2 – And start to get in SHAPE my friend if you haven’t already. If you think whats happening now is bad, wait until later on in the year. While I’m not going to tell you what will happen as you wouldn’t believe me anyway, I might just say “I told you so” later, hehe. Nah  . . . . but that ain’t the point of me writing this. The point is, get in shape – and quick – you’ll need it, my friend.

On that note, pick up a copy of Advanced Hill Training while you’re at it. YES, these workouts can be ported over to HOME based routines as well, which is exactly what I did last night! Grab the course now and get cracking, my friend.

Over lunch, something interesting happened.

My wife and daughter were chatting from what it seems . . . about yours truly who was truly “lost” in himself, and thinking about something else.

Over a plate of boiled egg and rice, and for that don’t know, twas delicious, hehe.

On that note, HEALTHY CAN BE delicious, my friend and usually always IS if you do it right.

And though I love Chinese food as well, my course on Dish Delicious contains NO Chinese dishes.

Mostly all Western and Indian dishes – super healthy dishes at that and then some – and delicious ones you CAN eat day in and day out without dreading, hehe.

Youll never even feel like you’re sticking to a diet if you eat these, and as I ate today, I sure didn’t feel like it.

“This is what they call a foodie”, I remarked laughingly to my wife.

Or, a Chi Huo as Cindy once called me, hehe.

Anyway, back to drums of fat.

My wife was telling my six year old, soon to be seven daughter about the ROLLS of fat that I had when she was born.

Yes, back during my lard ass days, hehe.

“Papa literally was three times the size he is now”, she said.

“Really?” exclaimed my daughter. “But I want him to be more!”

I want him to be soft and cuddly, she went.

Hehe.

That she does, as every little girl does!

And after that, my wife said the following.

“You could literally fill DRUMS of fat from him before” she said, giggling no less than NINETEEN to the DOZEN, hehe.

And its true my friend.

Its true, and since we think in pictures, I thought of a big blue nasty vat (the sort that the Chinese use in “slaughterhouse style” lunch rooms – ugh, that’s a memory from back in the day that ain’t nice at all! ?) . . . and a vat filled with FAT at that.

Human fat, and if you think that’s gross, well, that’s precisely what people pay big bucks for in terms of liposuctions and other (to me gross) cosmetic alterations.

And believe it or not, certain cases involve the patient “wanting to look at their fat” after it’s taken out.

Gross perhaps, but par for the course for folks these days!

Funny part?

It’s not so much the gross nature of this that I’m against as the unnatural nature of it, and the fact that these results NEVER EVER LAST!

Liposuction may make you look good temporarily (albeit with stretch marks due to the fat being “suddenly” taken out and previous tight skin becoming saggy).

Weight loss “belts”, all the latest rage won’t even do that. All they’ll do is a burn a hole in your POCKET – NOT your waistline and the fat deposits around it.

I once saw a machine that claimed to “jiggle your fat for you” and if there ever was an excuse to be lazy, that machine was IT. It promised the moon and probably delivered the exact opposite, and probably made sales aplenty as it is, as it said exactly what people WANT To hear, that being lose weight – the EASY way.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it don’t work that way my friend.

The good things in life are neither free nor easy.

I mean, they’re easy if you set your mind to it, but you can’t just show up and expect to get results. You have to do THE thing.

Other hand, if you want lasting results, then THOSE routines and exercises are the WAY TO GO, my friend.

For real.

And if you don’t believe me, look at the scores of people who show up for liposuction – AGAIN – after the first or second treatment.

That fat comes right back on, and so it should, as you have NOT increased either the T levels in your body – or the levels of HGH – or the levels of muscle – by doing precisely nothing other than lie under a surgeon’s scalpel.

And so, your body’s “chemical” balance was NOT altered the way it is, for instance, when you workout NATURALLY – and build a ton of strength and muscle (while releasing that all important HGH for HOURS after your workout) while at it!

Moral of the story is this – if you want lasting results – then do what LASTS.

Don’t look for the easy way out, my friend. It don’t exist.

Best,

Rahul Mookerjee

P.S. – Here are the routines that will burn off the blubber off your body so quickly you’ll wonder how you ever put it on in the first place – https://0excusesfitness.com/0excusesfitnessystem/

P.S #2 – And to ramp it up, combine all this with what I teach you in Advanced Hill Training – right here - https://0excusesfitness.com/advanced-hill-training/

Well, it's been a while since the last email - - the summer is raging on here, hot, humid and - - well - - H..O..T!! So hot that the hill walk seems like I'm doing it in a sauna, albeit a "natural" one.  .  .PHEW!

Anyway, seems the heat is getting to some people's brains, and today's email is about one of the most STUPID, bar none, statements I've heard in the recent past (and going by the jokerishness going on during the past month or so, that is saying something - - but more on that later).

This morning, I was talking to a lady who I met a few days ago. We were talking "business" (read into that what you choose to, hehe) - - but after we were done, the conversation shifted on to other topics, and we soon started chatting about fitness.

Now, this lady isn't hard on the eyes to be honest, and that's putting it lightly. Great figure, no extra flab, etc etc - - as you might expect from a competitive swimmers, which this lady used to be in her younger days.

(Side note: Swimming is one of the very best exercises there is, despite the fact it doesn't do much for the legs - - goes against a lot of what I've said about leg training being the #1 priority, but swimming is one of the very few, if not the ONLY exercise which actually delivers a lot of the same fitness benefits that you get via other tough exercises - - but again, more on this later).

And so it wasn't a surprise that we got talking about fitness, starting with swimming, at which this woman appears to be FAR better than me - - and good on her for that.

"I knew it", I said. "You look like you love sports - - but I didn't know you liked swimming as well".

The usual giggle, giggle, and thank you, and we continued.

"I guess you go to the gym nowadays, since you don't swim competitively any longer", I said, more as an afterthought than anything else.

"Yeah, I do"

And so, we started talking about the various exercises she did at the gym, most of them being ones I wouldn't personally do,  but hey, to each his - - or her - - own. And it wasn't all bad stuff to be honest, stationery biking, treadmill, etc - - not the best by a long shot, but if it works for her, hey...

"What about the Stairmaster", I broke in, as we were discussing the benefits of the treadmill. "I'm sure you use that, and..."

"Oh no", she said, looking a tad bit concerned. "Climbing stairs is bad for your knees, you know".

I shook my head. I was sure I had not heard her correctly.

"Huh?"

She repeated what she said, and I shook my head again, this time in pure disbelief.

"Bad for you? Stairs are BAD for your knees???"

"Yes. My personal trainer, and the one before that said so".

"Ah", I responded, still trying to deal with this once-competitive swimmer imparting this bit of sage (not) wisdom.

But as the shock abated, I realized it wasn't her fault - - it was more her personal trainer's fault for spouting rubbish that has no basis whatsoever - - and whats sad is that 99.99% of trainers you'll see in the gym today are just as, if not MORE, clueless about what WORKS  - - and what doesn't.

(Or should we say as opposed to hard work and "sweating it out" as a couch potato is to a brisk walk?)

And I looked at her legs, and it made more sense. She has "swimmer's legs" for sure - - slender, lissom- - legs that wouldn't look out of place in a fashion contest - - but at the same time, legs that don't scream STRENGTH - - and RUGGED POWER.

I then tried to convince the lady that she was being fed a crock, but though she listened politely, I got the feeling I might as well be banging my head against a brick wall.

Anyway, shortly after we exchanged pleasantries and departed, and that particular story ends there - - but that is where THIS email starts, to be honest.

I chose this topic to write about because there are LOADS of folks out there who believe that stairs are the worst thing you can do to your knees, when the truth is the exact opposite.

Look, fellas (and gals), training your legs is the NUMBER ONE, I repeat, NUMBER ONE priority in any sort of fitness endavour.  I don't care if your training to be in the army, or sports, or martial arts - - or if your the blob that has just got off the couch for the first time in his life - - leg training is by far the most important thing to focus on, followed closely by hip, core and back work.

And there is nothing that quite hits the legs, back and core like a long, steep step of stairs climbed rapidly and repeatedly.

Why?

Well, because this exercise taxes the thighs - - which are by far the largest muscles in your body, and the muscles which really cause GROWTH - - and fat loss - - and release of HGH (human growth hormone) in liberal amounts all over your body.

Squats and rope jumping do it as well, but nothing really gets the heart rate up as efficiently as climbing stairs. And anyone that has experienced the heart pounding, "blood roaring in ears" feeling after a tough climb up a bunch of stairs knows what I mean.

As for it being bad on the knees, well, I haven't experienced any problems from my daily climbs up the hill. And neither do the thousands of people ascending the steep stairs leading up the mountain near where I live on a daily basis (both old and young) seem to complain about bad knees - - if anything, they seem to be enjoying far better overall health and strength than their counterparts on the machines in the gyms.

You'll hear some folks complain about "flexion" of the knees - - well, all I can say is that Nature gave us knees for a PURPOSE - - and your using your knees for exactly the same purpose that they were intended for when you climb stairs.

Your knees were NOT intended to stay "straight" on a machine while you "isolate" your muscles - - NO WAY, Jose!

And at this point,  you might hear some say "Pooh! Swimming gets one fit as a fiddle, but swimmers don't have the sort of legs you mention - - what gives?"

Fair enough - - but google any competitive swimmers's routine, and you'll see that exercise on land is a priority for them - - especially LEG work.

Swimming is a sport where the legs don't get that much work - - the upper body does the bulk of the hard work - - but does this mean strong legs don't help a swimmer?

Again, no way, Jose - - them "frog kicks" and "dolphin kicks" will be that much more powerful with a pair of strong and sturdy legs as the "motor" behind the movement!

And if that still hasn't convinced you, take a gander at Fast and Furious Fitness where I detail how my daily hill climb has helped me get into the VERY BEST shape of my life - - at the age of 33, at that - - and if THAT doesn't convince you, then nothing will.

Or, well, wait a minute.

A hard climb up a hill in searing hot weather might - - especially if that hill has STAIRS on the way up.

But then again, that would mean HARD work.

Something that 99.9999999% of all "personal trainers" (UGH!) are opposed to. And something that most modern day trainees seem not to think much of either, preferring to "blast" out reps of whatever exercise they are doing on the latest useless machine in the gym while "ogling the babes".

And if you're the kind that fits into the above category - - well, no problems from my end, my friend - - but I wish you best of luck with the knee problems YOU WILL have if you continue using the machines and do no other work for your legs.

And if you are in the tiny minority? The "Fast and Furious Fitnes" minority, if I might say so?

Well, there's nothing to say in that case - - except a (virtual) shake of the hand, and pat on sweaty back - - and back to the workout, as it were!

Well, that's it for today. If you hear a personal trainer spout more nonsense like this, smack him as hard as you can before running - - that'll be your "good deed for the day"!

Best Regards,

Rahul

P.S.: - I speak about Fast and Furious Fitness in this note, and you can grab your copy right HERE: - http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/articles/4-fast-and-furious-fitness-the-book. This is NOT for the 99.999999% I just mentioned - - but if you don't fit into that category - - well - - there's no better read for you. Again, that link is http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/articles/4-fast-and-furious-fitness-the-book . . . rush on over, and grab your copy NOW.

Hi {subtag:name},

Yet another hot and muggy day here in Southern China, so hot that the term "sweating buckets" doesn't do justice to how hot one feels when exercising in an intense manner. My shirt was sopping wet by the time I got through HALF of my hill climb, and it seemed to weight a couple of kilograms or more by the time  I was done. Whew!

Never did manage to get through the "pulling part" of my workout though - thanks mostly to an incessant drizzle that wouldn't (and still apparently hasn't) let up. Boo!

Anyway, the mailbox is overflowing with questions from readers that want to know - - let's take a look at two interesting emails from different corners of the globe.

The first email comes from Rich (presumably in the U.S.) -

"I subscribe to your newsletter and enjoy your inspirational personal workout stories.
 
In the article entitled "The old man I met a couple of months back in China", you mentioned a hamstring stretch that he did that also stretched his entire core, lower back, chest, calves, and shin.
 
When you find the time, would you write another newsletter describing that stretch.
 
I look forward to reading your future newsletters.
 
Sincerely,"

Rich, thanks a million for the positivity and kind words. Before I describe the stretch the old man did (does, actually), be advised this this stretch is a somewhat advanced stretch and you a) need to work into it and b) DEFINITELY, and I  mean DEFINITELY - - let me say that again - - MOST DEFINITELY - - need to be WARMED up and ready for the stretch.

This is NOT one of those stretches that one does straight out of bed, to put in another way - - you need to be warmed up for it, and do need to have a (or work up to) a certain level of flexibility to do this correctly. I usually do it after my hill climb and before my pushups.  

To do this, find a railing, or other "broad" surface at about chest height and lift one leg up slowly, while keeping it straight so that the heel of your foot is resting on the railing (or said surface).  Keep the other leg ramrod straight, and at right angles to the first one.

From this position bend forward (and again, LEGS STRAIGHT!) and grab the ankle (or heel of the foot is you can) of the outstretched leg with BOTH hands, and bend forward so that your chest and upper body are in line with the outstretched leg.

Stay in that position for as long as you can. When you start, you likely won't be able to do this at all, or if you can, you won't go beyond fifteen seconds or more provided you maintain proper form. But thats OK. Work up to it, and work into it - - this one simple movement will increase flexibility by leaps and bounds through your ENTIRE BODY.

Sounds simple, you say? Well, TRY IT, my friend - - and if you want to make it tougher, do what the old man does - - which is to throw one's leg up - - ramrod straight, NO bending at the knee on either leg - - onto a surface ABOVE HEAD HEIGHT, and then repeat the above movement.
 
WHEW - - talk about a hamstring stretch from "hell"!!

And now, as a bonus, I'll throw in another similar stretch that will stretch your chest and shoulders out (in addition to the rest of your body) like nobody's business. This one is somewhat easier, but not a lot easier than the one the old guy does, though some folks may find it tougher.

Stand together with your feet shoulder width apart, and keep your legs perfectly straight - - NO BENDING whatsover at the knees again, and raise your arms straight over your head while clasping your fingers together. Now, bend FROM THE WAIST - - keeping the legs perfectly straight - - and try and touch  your clasped palms to the floor, and hold the position for time.

As you get better, bring your legs together. Your eventual goal is to do it with your legs together and palms flat beside your feet.

So, that's that for the "hammy" stretches - - great question, by the way, Rich.

And now for another great one from "Sujit" in India: -

"i have been reading your newsletter on bodyweight training and i should tell you i just love to read what you write about workout....i enjoy reading your workout experiences like the one in china....this is the first time i am writing to you as i got some queries which i think only you can clarify...hmm i read your last mail in which you stressed the importance of slow deadhang pullup and handstand for mass gains...for last 1 week i have started doing slow pullup with 4 sec to go up hold for 4 sec at top and again down and i cant do handstand pushup so i am doing assisted handstand....my query is can these two workouts build muscle mass if i work hard at these two exercises ??
and my second query is what bodyweight exercise should i do for my legs for putting on mass...squats are not helping me in gaining any mass ..please help me out..."

Sujit, thanks so much for the positive words. To answer your questions: -

1.YES, the exercises you mention WILL build muscles - - slabs of solid muscle all over your upper body, to be honest, if you keep at it and keep improving with every workout. Of course, I'm referring to REAL muscle - - not the comic book "Micky Mouse" bloated muscles the "bodybuilders" in most modern gyms have.

In other words, YES, you'll build solid, functional strength with these exercises, and lean, toned, POWERFUL upper body muscles, much like a jungle cat's with these movements.

2. Though some may not notice, Sujit has just revealed one of my "secrets" to superior strength - - which is the timed hold he refers to at the TOP of each pull-up as well as during the movement - - great stuff, Sujit, and this is guaranteed to build super strong forearms as well in addition to the muscles you are targeting. Not to mention a grip like steel - OUCH!

3. If you cannot do handstands as yet, you really need to work into them, as (and as I've said many times before), handstand pushups and pull-ups are one of the, if not THE, most powerful exercise combos out there for the upper body. You may want to check out my "Shoulders for Boulders" course which gives you simple and easy to follow instructions to build up to doing handstand pushups for REPS - - at which point you'll be buying new shirts since the old ones won't fit you any longer - - guaranteed!

Shoulders like Boulders: - http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/products/87-shoulders-like-boulders

Of course, a proper diet is of paramount importance as well in terms of your goals which is to build high quality functional MUSCLE. And the Simple and Effective Diet should help you with that: - http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/articles/84-the-simple-and-effective-diet

4. In terms of mass for your legs, yes, squats are an effective way of gaining quality muscle mass in your legs. Are you doing them with bodyweight, or are you doing the "weighted squats" with a barbell on your back? I prefer high rep bodyweight squats over weighted squats any day - - not to mention the LUNG POWER the former exercise builds as opposed to the latter, which is still beneficial if done right - - but not nearly as much.

You are probably aware from the Great Gama, a legendary wrestler from the Punjab in India. Gama is reputed to have done THOUSANDS of these bodyweight squats (as well as bodyweight squats with heavy bricks/stones tied around his neck) on a daily basis, and his leg development was second to none - - and he was one of the best wrestlers that ever lived, PERIOD.

And while squats are an excellent way to build muscle mass in your legs, hiking up steep hills at a rapid pace (my own preferred means) will do it just as well, and works better for some folks.

Rope jumping is another time tested way of building muscle mass in the calves and thighs - - look at any professional boxer, and you'll realize that this simple exercise is virtually limitless in terms of potential.

And of course, sprints if you so prefer - - there are many ways to skin the cat you are referring to.

Great questions guys - - and keep them coming in, and I'll answer as many as I can in my daily e-mails.

Tomorrow's (or the next) post will deal with a guy that I see working out beside me on a daily basis in the park - - a guy that does the SENSIBLE thing for a change. More on that later!

All for now - - if you work out today - - make it a superb one!!

Best Regards,

Rahul

Yes, you heard that right. Forget the six pack, but work the ABS - - work them intensely, and make them a priority in any workout you partake in.

What's that, I hear you say. Work the abs, but forget the six pack, the very muscles that make up the abs?

He's nuts, I hear some of you say. Bonkers! After all, how on earth can I work the abs without concentrating on the six pack - - which makes up the majority of the abs?

And so forth.

Well, my friend, given the modern day muscle media nonsense floating about all over the place, and even in most commercial gyms etc, you'd be justified in calling me nuts for saying this - - but hear me out for just a minute before you judge.

First off, the "six pack" muscle might be the ones that are clearly "visible" to most folks, and that are the "showpiece" muscles of the abdominal region, but remember that there is a workhorse behind every showpiece, and the same holds true for the abdominal muscles.

The REAL work to stabilize the core (the primary function of the abdominal muscles) is NOT done by the "six pack" - - it's done by muscles far deeper underneath - - the muscles of the abs that literally create a "girdle" around your stomach - - ones you can't see, but ones that are vitally important and crucial for any level of real abdominal strength.

And other than these muscles, most of the "heavy lifting" is done by the muscles at the SIDE of your body - - i.e. your obliques, NOT your "six pack".

Yes, I said that. Your obliques are far more involved in any sort of physical activity you do than the actual six pack is and add FAR more to core strength than the superficial "six pack" does.

Proof, you ask?

Well, look at any competitive weight lifter, or sportsperson, or anyone in GOOD shape, really (and by good I don't mean the 'roid crazed monsters at the gym with their bloated muscles, each trying to "outpump" the other).

Strongmen. Swimmers. Boxers. Or those that hike hills on a regular basis, for that matter.

Take a person in any of these categories, and the first thing you'll notice about their abdominal region is those "lines" running along their sides. A look that can't be hidden even if you wear loose T-shirts that two of you could fit into - - and a look that is either "chiseled" or "muscular", but NOT FAT.

And while said people might have a six pack as a direct consequence of the ab work they do (which in turn is a result of the exercises they do on a regular basis which involve the large muscles of the hips, legs, back and shoulders), that six pack isn't the showy six pack you might expect.

Last, but not least, we have the muscles that run along the base of the back, the spinal erectors to be exact. It is virtually IMPOSSIBLE to be either fit or strong to any degree without developing these muscles to their fullest, and again, you only need to look at any competitive athlete (in most sports that involve physical activity) for proof.

So THOSE are the muscles you need to concentrate upon, NOT the six pack, and certainly NOT that awful, worthless exercise that God only knows who invented - - the dreaded "C" exercise.

Yes, I mean crunches - - which are the most useless exercise ever invented in my opinion.

Ok, hold on, Rahul, I hear some of you say. It's all fine and dandy asking me not to focus on the six pack - - but  how do I focus on the other muscles?

Well - - good question - - and there is a simple answer - - you don't.

Huh?

Yes, you heard that right. You don't focus exclusively on these muscles - - but you DO focus on hard, regular workouts that TAX THE ENTIRE BODY AS AN UNIT - - which is hymn #1 in the hymnal most Fast and Furious Fitness followers religiously sing from daily.

Climb a hill, and you involve the obliques and spinal erectors without realizing it (except for those that are way overweight, hehe).

Lift a keg, or a barrel of beer overhead and press it multiple times and you're working the internal stabilizers in your core FAR, FAR better than when your doing them worthless crunches.

Do pull-ups in strict form, and your working the entire core heavily, especially the obliques.

And so forth.

So those are the important muscles, my friend, NOT the six pack muscles.

Of course, none of this means you ignore a good diet, a bulging belly, etc - - but it DOES mean that you focus on - - gasp - - yes, exercises that make you WORK - - puff and pant - - and involve the ENTIRE BODY as an UNIT, as opposed to isolationist exercises that seem to be all the rage these days.

Old fashioned stuff, but stuff that works - - give it a try, and you'll see.

And I'll end on that note - - but the "good form" reminds me of some foolishness I see on a regular basis in the nearby park. Stuff that has me literally shaking my head in disbelief at the sheer stupidity of those who think that sort of workout will actually benefit them. . .and THAT will be the topic for the next post!

Hasta la vista for now - - and if you workout today, make it an awesome one!!

Best Regards,
Rahul
 
P.S: - I speak about pull-ups in this email, but not many of you will be able to do these in correct form for reps. And if your one of the many that struggles with pull-ups, then THIS is the course you need: -  http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/articles/88-getting-better-at-pull-ups-from-dud-to-stud-within-a-matter-of-weeks

Let's face it, we (or at least the guys reading this) all like the look a large, powerful and brawny "barrel chest" gives a man. Most guys rate the chest as the favorite part of their body to develop, and that's not entirely a bad thing, as the pectorals are one of the larger muscles in the upper body, and working large muscle groups in conjunction is always a good thing.

But it's not good when folks start to ignore other body parts in favor of purely training the chest, which is actually more common than you'd think -

- and neither is it good that most folks don't have a clue as to what the REAL secret is to developing a broad, powerful chest.

Now, I can already sense the regular readers on this list saying "Ok, I know the hidden key he's talking about. He's said it so many times before!

Work an opposing body part, in this case, the back, and your chest will grow as well. Bah. Humbug."

And they'd be right - - I DO mention that a lot of times, and with darn good reason, but I'm not going to go over that particular reason in that email.

No, there's a far more important hidden key here - - something which most people are either unaware of, or prefer to ignore (usually the former).

What's that, you ask.

Well, let me backtrack a bit before answering. Several years ago, I climbed my favorite hill for the first time - and the experience left me feeling as if a truck had run over me. I never thought the seemingly simple task of walking uphill could tax the entire body, but boy was I wrong.

A few months later, I was climbing this hill on a daily basis, and had dropped almost four waist sizes. My pants were "hanging" off me, my resting pulse dropped to about 65 or so, and my legs had become like pillars of rock - - all benefits that might be expected from this sort of exercise, but what I also noticed that I was growing out of my shirts - - and this without doing a single pushup, or any sort of exercise for my chest. I did do pull-ups after my hill climb, but not regularly - - my main exercise at the time was the daily hill climb.

Fast forward a few years, and I was doing all sorts of pushups and pull-ups on a daily basis - - including sets of the super tough handstand pushup -

- something which most people can't even do a single rep of - - but though I packed on a lot of mass on to my upper body from these exercises, nothing really "stretched the tape measure" quite so drastically as my hill climbs had.

Back then, I was wearing medium size shirts, and I rocketed straight up to XL size a few months later. Fast forward a few years, and my size increased to a XXL, but not really a lot after that.

Now, keep in mind that was a few months - - and this was a few YEARS of training.

And now, let's forward again to right NOW. As in, February 2014 - - I'm back to climbing my hill again after a bit of a break the past few weeks, and I'm already noticing my shirts starting to get tight around my shoulders yet again - - and this without really doing a lot of upper body work on a regular basis.

What gives, you ask.

Well - put simply - and hard as it might sound to believe, it's the deep breathing that my hill climb induces that is working my upper back and chest muscles along with my entire body. Ever felt REALLY, REALLY out of breath? Like so out of breath you could barely open your mouth long enough to gulp in air, your heart pounding inside your chest like a sledgehammer?

That is what a tough, non-stop hill climb will do to you - - and let me tell you, this deep breathing works the HECK out of your entire upper body as well, including your abdominals and back. In fact, my stomach muscles are often sore after a tough climb as opposed to my legs -- that's how much this deep breathing works my entire upper body.

The old timers wouldn't find this surprising - - in fact, a lot of the old timers recommended exercises that induced heavy, labored breathing for a sustained period of time followed by chest specific exercises to really achieve maximal growth. John Maccullum, Peary Rader, you name them, and these guys knew about how important deep breathing was to overall chest development.

And how does deep breathing actually develop the chest, you might ask?

Well, long story, and one I can't really explain in an email, but the gist of it is that deep breathing done correctly forces the "inner" chest fibers and muscles to grow, thereby giving you a larger and more spacious rib box in which the lungs can expand more comfortably, thereby taking in more air with each breath. It also works the outer chest and back muscles to a degree - - not to mention the entire core - - done correctly, you are forced to breathe in air the right way i.e. through your abdomen instead of your chest.

You can call it developing the chest from the "inside out"; but whatever you call it, it works far, far better than simply trying to overload your chest muscles with heavy presses and the such. Although those are good, deep breathing is the real deal - - deep breathing is what lays the foundation for tremendous gains down the road. Remove the foundation, and you might as well not have the building - - it is that simple.

And of course, the way you get to a state of deep breathing so profound it literally reshapes your physique from the inside out is by doing exercises that cause you to gasp for air - - namely, leg exercises - - or even more more specifically, exercises that work the thighs, hips and core to the max

- - in other words, those exercises that tax the largest muscle groups in your body.

Show me a guy who squats regularly, or climbs hill regularly, or even jumps rope at a high level, and I'll show you someone with a well developed chest.

Other hand, show me someone who just works the chest without really working the leg muscles, and I'll show you someone who might have the "look" but not the actual strength and power (as well as size) that comes with REAL chest development.

And though all this might sound confusing, it's really not. Here's how you know what this is about - - find an exercise - - any exercise that makes you breathe deeply, and heavily for a sustained period of time (and I mean REAL deep breathing) - - and work that exercise into the ground for a couple of months. You may do upper body work at the end of your routine, but make it supplementary work - - not the main course.

After two months, measure your chest - - and if you've been doing this right, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

And that, my friend, is the tip of the day - - work the chest from the INSIDE OUT for a truly large, and powerful chest!

Implement this little gem into your training routine, and let me know how you do.

Very Best,

Rahul

P.S: - Leg exercises are the ones that cause all the puffing and panting, literally forcing your body to grow - - but you gotta do the right ones - - and Fast and Furious Fitness is the best resource for those interested in this type of thing: -  http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/articles/83-fast-and-furious-fitness-the-book

Woke up this morning feeling especially sprightly, and I knew at once today was going to be a day where I did something different exercise wise.

No, not different as in deviate from my core routines - I hardly ever do that - but different as in "tweak" my routine just a little bit. 'Twas a glorious winter morning BTW, and such mornings just call upon the exercise fanatics amongst us to get out there, and do SOMETHING - different or not - I'm sure those of you that exercise regularly know what I'm talking about here.

So, off I went to the hill, making sure to enjoy every moment of my walk and the feeling of the SUN on my face. That's two important tips right there by the way - always make sure to get enough sun during the wintertime, and always make sure to ENJOY your workout, no matter what you do or what your preferences are in terms of exercise (lifting weights, walking, swimming, whatever it is - make sure to ENJOY it to the fullest!).

Made it up the hill in one piece, and then started on some jumping jacks. Did 50 of them, got my breath back (again) - whew - and then figured I'd choose a different path on the way down today. I usually choose the path without any steps on the way down - seems to give me a better workout in terms of really stretching my hamstrings out after a tough uphill climb, but I took yet another route with steps on the way down (this hill has plenty of routes that all lead to the top).

Now, I've been on this particular route before -  it's a longer walk than my usual route, but it's also a somewhat easier walk, both uphill and downhill - and in the midst of it I got a bit bored. And then from somewhere I got the crazy idea to pause, and go right back up the hill - the same way I came down.

So, off it was for another thigh and lung buster up the hill - oh BOY! I must have lost at least two kilograms in water weight alone after that - at least, that is what it felt like.

And this second climb made me feel GREAT - a feeling that will likely last throughout the day, by the way. Knocked off 25 pushups this time, collapsed in a puddle of my own sweat, and then finally got up to make my way down the hill (choosing my normal route this time).

The sun was shining, the birds were singing - in short, it was an absolutely glorious afternoon by then - and I paused along the way to take some pictures and just "drink" in the views and greenery on offer.

Got all the way down, but something didn't quite feel right.

What was it, you ask.

Well, I felt like something was still MISSING from my overall routine - not sure why, since I had gotten in TWO climbs already by then - more than what I do on a daily basis. . .

And then, out of nowhere, it "struck" me - I just needed another climb up the hill - and what's more, I wanted to climb back up the way I just came down (i.e. the route without steps).

Touch of the sun? Perhaps.

CRAZY? For sure, if your not into this sort of exercise!

Anyway, so up I went again. And a short while into the climb. . .oh my.

OH MY.

OH MY!

My lungs were screaming, my thighs literally felt like they were going to explode - and as for my lower back, well, the less said about it better - three tough uphill climbs and a lot of walking in between with no rest will make even the fittest of people feel it somewhat.

Made it halfway to the top, and thought about quitting while I attempted to "wipe" the sweat and fog off my glasses - an attempt in vain for the most part, by the way.

Resumed, and got about 90% of the way up there before I thought I saw Jesus walking across a shimmering lake. OK, not literally that, but you get my point - I was totally spent, and buzzed to the extreme.

FINALLY made it up all the way, walked around for a bit "savoring" the jelly like feeling in my thighs, and then made it down in one piece - this time for good (for today). While at the top, I saw an old Chinese couple that were walking up hill with me the second time - and they were still there at the top when I made it up for the third time.

They smiled in a silly sort of way at me (or so it seemed), and said something to we which I didn't quite understand. My Chinese is elementary at best, and I'm NOT at my best trying to decipher a foreign language when I'm bushed and so out of breath I can barely speak.

But words aren't always necessary, my friend.

The LOOK the couple gave me said it all - it was a combination of an indulgent look (that a doting parents might bestow upon a toddler being silly) and a "wary" sort of look you might direct at those with more than a few marbles missing "up there", hehe.

In short - that look basically said - this dude is NUTS. As in, plumb damn nuts. Fruity. Batty. Whatever - you get the point!

And I nodded back in a knowing sort of way - hey, I admit it - I'm a sucker for tough climbs and tough workouts - and if that makes folks think I'm nuts, so be it - the sheer BUZZ I get after that sort of thing makes it more than worth it!

Now, some of you reading this are going to want to jump up straight from years of inactivity on the couch in front of the "tube" and want to run up the nearest hill you can find (or stairs) - and that is something I do NOT advise, as it's a veritable recipe for disaster - guaranteed.

Neither do I advise the moderately fit to partake of such activities on a regular basis - this sort of thing should only be done once in a while.

Again, in short, build up to it. Rome wasn't built in a day as they say, and neither will your capacity to recover or even partake of such routines, so proceed with due caution. Craziness in moderation and with due deliberation, if that makes sense!

Anyhow, 'twas all I could do after that to bang out a few pull-ups, timed holds and dips and then it was off home for a well deserved shower and lunch.

And that, my friend was my workout and my update for today. I'm outta here now - back again soon - and if you workout today -  make sure it's a lung buster "for the ages"!!

Best Regards,

Rahul

P.S.: - In case you didn't know, prices at Fast and Furious Fitness headquarters are at a crazy low right now - a whopping TWENTY percent off any order. Click on over NOW to take advantage: - http://rahulmookerjee.com/index.php/products