How Do You Make A Gladiator Fat on Demand?

According to Archeology magazine (by the Archeological Institute of America), it turns out that Gladiators were actually fat. They were fat on purpose:

“A fat cushion protects you from cut wounds and shields nerves and blood vessels in a fight.” Not only would a lean gladiator have been dead meat, he would have made for a bad show. Surface wounds “look more spectacular,” says Grossschmidt. “If I get wounded but just in the fatty layer, I can fight on,” he adds. “It doesn’t hurt much, and it looks great for the spectators.”

How Did They Get Fat (In spite of being VERY physically active)?

“A vegetarian diet rich in carbohydrates… and very little animal protein… Packing in the carbs also packed on the pounds.”

You can read the whole article right here.

Sumo Wrestlers AND Gladiators Have a Lot In Common

This sounds an awful lot like what the Sumo did when they wanted to get fat on purpose – cut back on the animal protein and pack in the carbs.

It is ironic that this is the same advice that we get from the food pyramid. Is that designed to make people fat too?

Low fat, and therefore high carb nutrition became dogma in the late 70’s, early 80’s, exactly when the obesity epidemic started.  Coincidence?

Josef Brandenburg is Washington, DC’s top personal trainer for busy people. He shows normal people with hectic lives and average genetics how to create the bodies they want in the time they actually have. To find out more about the 7-Day Free Trial click here. You can also pick up a copy of his brand new CD – “Why Eat Less and Exercise More is The Worst Advice Ever” here.

Quick and Easy Low-Carb Pizza

For as long as I can remember I have loved pizza. I ate my first whole large pizza from Pizza Hut when I was 8, and its probably no coincidence that my doctor first started getting on my about my weight at about that age:-).

So, this is my new thing – taking stuff that used to be special occasion only (like cheeseburgers and pizza) and making it into stuff that I can eat every day without compromising on taste, fullness, energy or the way my pants fit.

These are super easy – less than 5min to get it ready to go in the oven, and about 8min to cook; and they are super yummy.

Low-Carb Pizza Green

1 La Banderita (there are other brands too) low-carb tortilla (you can get them at Safeway, Harris Teeter and probably other places)                               5g net carb
2-3 tbsp pesto (fresh is better, watch for added sugar)       1g net carb
1 handful spinach                                                                        .5g net carb
½ cup cooked chicken                                                               1g net carb
½ cup mozzarella cheese                                                          1.5 g net carbs
Pinch parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Low-Carb Pizza Red

1 La Banderita (there are other brands too) low-carb tortilla (you can get them at Safeway, Harris Teeter and probably other places)                               5g net carb
2 tbsp no sugar added pizza sauce                                          2.5g net carb
4 slice tomato                                                                                2g net carb
½ cup cooked chicken                                                                1g net carb
1 small handful fresh basil leaves
½ cup mozzarella cheese                                                         1.5g net carb
Pinch parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions – Same for both (ingredients are listed in ascending order: tortilla first, next thing on top, etc.)

1. Pre-heat over to 400 F and lightly spray large baking sheet.
2. Place tortillas on sheet and add ingredients (Ascending order – so tortilla 1st, then pesto, then spinach, and so on)
3. Bake for 8min, cut up and enjoy!

Nutrition

Green = 9g net carb per pizza
Red = 12g net carb per pizza

Josef Brandenburg is Washington, DC’s top personal trainer for busy people. He shows normal people with hectic lives and average genetics how to create the bodies they want in the time they actually have. To find out more about the 7-Day Free Trial click here. You can also pick up a copy of his brand new CD – “Why Eat Less and Exercise More is The Worst Advice Ever” here.