Drink with 76 Lean-Body Ingredients and super antioxidants

I was on a business trip a couple months ago with my good friend Dr. Kareem (my favorite metabolic abs expert), and his wife Karen, and I noticed an interesting green "liquid concoction" that Dr K was drinking every morning.

This green stuff looked disgusting!
Despite the "swamp water" look, Dr K was chugging this green stuff down and proclaiming how delicious it was.  I wasn't convinced.  But Dr K talked me into giving it a try, and I had to admit... this green concoction was pretty damn delicious!  I was sort of shocked.

So I immediately figured it HAD to be loaded with sugar and/or artificial sweetners to make a "greens drink" taste like that.  Wrong!  I looked at the ingredients... zero added sugars, nothing artificial at all... and contains 76 ingredients based on greens, fruits, veggies, enzymes, pre and probiotics, and more.

What Dr K had introduced me to was a new drink called Athletic Greens, which has recently been becoming more and more popular.

I had the chance recently to exchange emails with the owner of the company (through a couple mutual friends), and after I fired some questions his way about how this stuff is made and the quality of the ingredients, here was a portion of his reply to me... keep in mind that he's a Kiwi, as you'll see in some of his words:

"Hey mate,

We designed Athletic Greens to be the ultimate in nutritional insurance. By that I mean covering people's bases in terms of micronutrients daily. Our ingredients (76 of them) are 100% food sourced, freeze dried, with co-factors and enzymes intact for absorption for everything green. In the case of the minerals, they are the most bio-available and stable option in each instance.

Then we kept going... realizing that gut health is ultimately everything (it doesn't matter a whit if you don't absorb anything), and on top of that, absorption of those nutrients was imperative.  We kept adding things, with a few to making it the ultimate daily "all in one", there are a bunch of items to improve digestion quality, both pre and pro biotics, as well as some great digestive enzymes. there are some mild detoxifying agents such as dandelion root and milk thistle, plenty of immunity-boosting herbs and extracts, neural protection from a clinical grade PS and Pcholine, rosemary, and coQ10.

There are PLENTY of antioxidants in there, all whole food sourced again, and we capped the ORAC value at 5000 since that is where the research seems to show the best bang, (more than that is not necessarily better).

Then we put in the "greens" - our NZ sourced chlorella and spirulina are without compare, as are the bulk of our other green ingredients. We went light on grasses, and stuck to blue green algae and more potent green superfoods. The nutrient content of those ingredients is signifcant.

It is powder to avoid the heat treatment and pressure of tableting or encapsulation, because we absorb powders mixed in liquid up to 3x more efficiently than in capsule form, and because to get the equivalent of one dose of Athletic Greens in capsules you would be looking at around 12-18 capsules. No way!

Stack that with the fact that our ingredients are all-natural, organic where applicable, and 100% food sourced, we went with the best in class for everything... and you can see why -- despite the amount of stuff we have in there no one's urine changes colour, ie, it is all being absorbed."

Well, I'm sold!  Beyond the great taste, this is one of the best "superfood concoctions" I've seen anywhere...

Athletic Greens is full of RAW greens, antioxidants, herbs, enzymes, co-factors, medicinal mushrooms, vitamins, scarce nutrients, adaptogens, trace elements and minerals, pre and probiotics, and more.

What does Athletic Greens NOT contain?
AG contains absolutely no synthetic chemicals, artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners of any kind, no GMO's, herbicides, or pesticides, no wheat, dairy, gluten, corn, lactose, sucrose, dextrose, egg, yeast, or peanuts (in case of any worry about allergies).

Check out the 76 lean-body ingredients in Athletic Greens

More energy, a leaner body, and elimination of deficiencies are awaiting you!


Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer
Author - The Truth about Six Pack Abs 

For skiers:  my good friend Mastro has just started a new blog for skiing nuts like us - The Skiing Fanatic.  If you want some good skiing info on all topics, he's building it out.

Health Warning: chemicals that leach into your food and drinks

If you received my email a couple weeks ago about the chemical "BPA", then you learned about some of the harmful chemicals that can be leaching into your food and drinks from canned food and bottled drinks, and how to avoid them. 

Today, I have another chemical to tell you about below, in addition to BPA.

By the way, if you missed that BPA article, this is a MUST-READ, so please read below...

How BPA in canned foods and bottled drinks can increase abdominal fat, etc

New Health Warning:
In addition to the health issues related to BPA exposure, I just read a few articles on another chemical that we're being exposed to and how to avoid it.

The risk apparently comes from hot, fatty, or acidic liquids that you drink from styrofoam containers, which can leach small amounts of the chemical polystyrene (and the component, styrene) into your drink or food.

This also applies to food leftovers, sauces, oils, etc that are stored in styrofoam containers (which is typical from a leftover box from dining out) and/or reheated in those containers.

Styrene has been linked to cancer risk, neurotoxic symptoms, and more...

According to the Foundation for Achievements in Science and Education fact sheet, "long term exposure to small quantities of styrene can cause neurotoxic (fatigue, nervousness, difficulty sleeping), hematological (low platelet and hemoglobin values), cytogenetic (chromosomal and lymphatic abnormalities), and carcinogenic effects".

Doesn't sound like something we should be ingesting, does it. 

With that said, keep in mind that occasional use of styrofoam is probably not going to hurt you... remember that the human body can handle acute exposure to small amounts of chemicals... this happens everyday with various chemicals that you're exposed to.

However, the point is to try to avoid "chronic" exposure to some of these chemicals that we warn against... for example, it's probably not a good idea to use styrofoam cups every single day with hot liquids, or to use styrofoam containers several times per week for reheating leftovers from dining out.  Not a good idea.

But with that said, I wouldn't panic about occasional use of styrofoam, such as once a month.  The point is to avoid these chemicals as much as possible to limit your exposure.  The same goes for the BPA that we talked about in that article.

Fwd this email to your friends and family to help protect their health too!


**Awesome new protein bars I found:
I recently came across some awesome new protein bars that I really like... no junk, no soy protein, no HFCS, no sugar alcohols, etc.

Plus they taste great!

They're called Boku SuperFood Bars (you'll see them listed on that page)

Here's why I think these bars are almost perfect nutrition-wise:

    * 15 grams of quality protein (from raw sprouted brown rice protein... and some from the almond butter too)
    * a whopping 11 grams of fiber out of 30 grams of total carbs!  (that's a 37% ratio of fiber content... pefect for blood sugar stability)
    * there's 13 grams of healthy fats (mostly from the almond butter and almonds)
    * these bars also have some sprouted quinoa, and celtic sea salt (but are still low sodium)
    * and best of all, they contain loads of superfoods from the Boku Superfood blend of greens, maca, goji berries, antioxidant-rich mushrooms, probiotics, enzymes, and more

I'd also highly recommend trying their Boku SuperProtein, which you'll also see listed if you go to this page.

One thing that surprised me was that this Super-Protein has 77% DV of calcium (naturally-occuring), 59% DV of vitamin C, and 18% DV of vitamin A... all naturally-occuring due to the sprouted brown rice (which the sprouting produces more of these nutrients compared to plain brown rice).

Plus, you get all of these micro-nutrients without all of the starchy carbs that you get from brown rice... this Super-Protein has 26 gms of highly bioavailable protein per serving and only 3 gms of total carbs, along with 1 gm of fiber.  There's just a small amount of natural organic maple syrup in this Super-Protein too which adds a nice sweetness while still being very low in sugar.

What I've started to do when I make my smoothies now is mix this Super-Protein half and half with my typical raw grass-fed whey that I use too.  This actually makes a really tasty mixture!

You can try out this Boku SuperProtein and the Boku Bars at the site here (both items listed on this page)

Enjoy...  They are delicious, and superior nutrition!

Last thing for today:
We had previously closed down our Online Personalized Fitness Coaching program a few months back to focus all of our attention on the individuals in the program.  We now have some openings if you want to try out this service... and by the way, I personally review your program with another certified trainer and we work on your progress together. 

See the details about the Personalized Online Fitness Coaching program here.


Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer

4 Odd Workouts that burn off love handles and belly fat

Before the Q and A today that shows these 4 unique workout styles, I want to remind you that this is your last chance to take advantage of the 52%-off special on John Romaniello's brand new Final Phase Fat Loss 2.0 system.

If you haven't ordered yet, here's where to go:

FPFL Hormonal "Repair" Training 


Okay, here's a Q and A between John and I where John gives some unique info on training to erase hormonal issues, love handles, bellyfat, and leg fat issues...


Mike: Looking through your Final Phase Fat Loss program, it's clear that you've got some really unusual, unique ideas about training...which I really like. Can you sum up your training philosophy or give a brief description of your methods?

Roman: I can try, but I'm not very good at "brief" to be honest! (laughs)

The main thing I stress is that people work hard and work smart. Either CAN be effective on its own, but together they're unstoppable.

My programs use a lot of the same elements as many trainers, but I like to change up training styles to make things more effective, especially when trying to fix slow fat loss, bust through fat loss plateaus, or when attempting to lose those last 10 - 15 pounds of stubborn body fat.

Mike: That leads me to my next question--what's your take on why most people seem to have the most trouble in losing the last 10 - 15 pounds of body fat?

Roman: Ah, that's the million dollar question. The most common mistake people make when getting that low is not switching gears. Whether you realize it or not, losing the last 10 - 15 pounds requires a MUCH different approach than the first 10 - 15.

First, let's look at things mathematically.

A theoretical example:  If I'm 200 pounds and 30% body fat, then I have 60 pounds of fat on my body. Losing 10 of it only represents 1/6th of my total body fat. That's hard, but it's doable.

If I'm 200 at 15% bodyfat, I have 30 pounds of fat on my body. Losing just 15 pounds is literally losing HALF of my total body fat. HALF.

If you think your body is going to react the same way to those two goals, you're crazy.

From a standpoint of absolutes, yes, 10 - 15 pounds of fat is 10 - 15 pounds of fat-however, your body doesn't work well with absolutes. Your body functions on principles of reaction. So from a relative perspective, it's just going to be an uphill battle.

All of the evolutionary history of the human race has prepared us to hold fat efficiently; and that's especially true with the last 10 - 15 pounds. So, do you really think you can follow the same training program?

Of course not!

You need a program that addresses the specific hormonal issues that occur when you're trying to overcome a plateau or get leaner than you've been before.

And Final Phase Fat Loss was designed specifically to address the issues of both.

The Final Phase Fat Loss 2.0 System


Mike: And with the Final Phase Fat Loss programs you have different styles of workouts to combat different hormones and problem areas?

Roman: Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I learned all about the beauty of combining vastly different training methods, and that very theory is the foundation of Final Phase Fat Loss.

Final Phase Fat Loss is a fully comprehensive fat loss protocol. It's 6 weeks of training, made up of 24 unique workouts - 6 workouts each drawn from 4 separate training modalities.

In FPFL specifically, we use these four methods. Some unusual, all highly effective:

a) dynamic training

b) lactic acid based training

c) density based training

d) heavy strength oriented training.

This not only challenges the body with frequently changing stimulus, but also allows for the strengths of certain methods to offset the weaknesses of others.

So, rather, than just being additive, the combination of the training styles is actually synergistically more effective.

And then of course there is the hormonal stuff that we attack.

Mike: You've mentioned the hormonal stuff, and THAT'S what everyone's talking about. Can you give us a break down?

Roman: Great question. The main thing to consider is how powerful your hormones are, and how they effect every aspect of your physiology-include whether you burn or store fat AND where you store it.

What we've found over the years is that people who store fat in their love handles and lower back are generally insulin resistant.

If you've got a lot of lower body fat, it's likely your estrogen levels are high (yes, this can even strike men too).

And the one so many people have a problem with: cortisol, which is correlated with belly fat.

Mike: In Final Phase Fat Loss, you talk about fighting hormones with hormones. So with each of the above...

Roman: There is a hormone to counteract the effects, yes. Before we get into that, let's go back to training for a second.

I don't have to tell you, but training has a hormonal response to it. And as I mentioned, we use multiple training styles in the FPFL system.

Well, each one of those training styles is also intentioned to combat a specific hormonal issue as it burns fat in general.

Dynamic training will produce IGF-1, which will combat insulin sensitivity and help you to lose love handle and lower back fat.

Density based training increases testosterone, which works against estrogen related fat storage in the lower body (and yes, this helps women too, not just men).

For cortisol and belly fat, we look to lactic acid training, which produces growth hormone --and GH not only combats cortisol, but is fantastic for overall fat loss.

Mike: Very interesting my Roman friend! So basically, all of the different styles are each great for fat loss, and they each also work with your body to combat hormonal issues and produce hormones that help burn fat from your trouble areas?

Roman: Exactly. On top of that, the simple act of rotating training modalities makes them all more effective. Essentially, you're burning fat in every way possible, with 4 different types of attacks.

Mike: Awesome. All around, who do you think FPFL is right for and what sort of person is it wrong for?

Roman:  Again, great question. Final Phase Fat Loss is GREAT for 4 types of people:

1) Anyone looking to blast off that last 10 - 15 pounds.

2) Anyone who's been losing fat but has hit a plateau, and wants to revive their progress.

3) Anyone who suffers from hormonal fat storage in the

   a) lower body,
   b) belly/stomach,
   c) love handles, or
   d) if you're a guy, the dreaded "manboobs"

4) Anyone who has been using other fat loss programs in the past and is looking for something more advanced. I have to say Final Phase Fat Loss really is the most advanced fat loss workout I've come across.

This program tends to change the entire game for many people!

This ISN'T for someone who's a total beginner or anyone who hasn't exercised in an extended period of time. There's just too much ass-kicking involved. People need to get their feet wet a bit beforehand.

Mike: Okay, last question. You're currently in the middle of the Final Phase Fat Loss 2.0 "Grand Opening" Special. I know that you're offering it at 52% off in honor of your high school football number; how much longer do people have to grab Final Phase Fat Loss 2.0 at the HUGE discount?

Roman: We're running the sale for the rest of the day today, and it's set to expire tonight at midnight.  So this is everyone's LAST chance to grab the program and finally get rid of their stubborn fat before the price more than doubles at midnight tonight...

Go here:

Conquer those love handles, manboobs, ab fat, leg fat with the FPFL system!


Have fun with this program!  It's time to get the lean ripped body that you deserve!

Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer
Author - The Truth about Six Pack Abs

My airline nightmare and travel workouts and healthy meals

Wait til you hear about my airline NIGHTMARE that happened this past weekend...I think we set a record for most canceled flights and mechanical problems with planes in row! I'll also share the tricks I use to try to stay in great shape while traveling, dealing with food temptations, etc.

I was at a business conference in DC this past weekend, and was trying to get back home to Colorado on sunday. I was exhausted after a long 4-day weekend of the business sessions, and also all of the night-time parties and socializing. Yes, I know... as I've mentioned before, I'm not a fitness "robot" all the time, and I do drink moderately...

Here's my previous article on how to balance alcohol into a fitness lifestyle

back to my travel nightmare...

So it turned out that our first flight on sunday early afternoon was canceled due to some sort of mechanical problem with the plane. So they switched us to a different airline and got us a flight 5 hours later that day.

Then, we got on that sunday night flight, pulled out of the gate, and all of the sudden the captain came on the speaker and said that they just found something broken on the plane, so we pulled back into the gate. We sat on the plane for an hour and they still couldn't fix the problem. So then, they told us to de-plane and we waited at the gate for another 2 hours while they were trying to fix the problem. At a certain point, they said the problem couldn't be fixed until the morning and they had to put us in hotels for the evening and fly us out at 6am the next morning.

Frustrated that we were not going to get back to our own beds, we headed for the airport hotel, only to have to wake up at the ridiculously early hour of 4am. We get back to the airport and try to check in for the 6am flight, and now this new flight is canceled too for other mechanical problems! Are you kidding me...this is turning into a nightmare.

Next, they finally figure out how to change us over to another airline yet again and get us a flight out from DC to Denver at 9am. After 3 canceled flights in a row, we finally make it to Denver, but we still need to connect to Eagle-Vail airport, and there's a snowstorm coming in the mountains.

After a 3-hour layover in Denver, we're finally ready to board for our connection to Eagle-Vail. Not so fast! Can we possibly have a 4th flight with mechanical problems?!? Right as we're about to board, they make an announcement that the plane has a flat tire and needs to be replaced. Ok, now it's getting almost comical on our bad luck. All we can do is shake our heads.

But after another 45 minute delay or so while they changed the tire, we were FINALLY on our way safely back to Eagle-Vail, just beating the snowstorm that arrived a couple hours later.

All in all, that was FOUR flights with mechanical problems on THREE different airlines, an extra hotel stay that we didn't want, total lack of sleep, and didn't get home until a day and a half after we should have.

Travel nightmare over!

So how does this relate to staying in shape while traveling? Well, as you may have seen from past newsletters, I travel frequently for work and business conferences in the fitness world... probably about 10 days per month on average. So this means I need to find time in my busy schedule while on trips to squeeze workouts in and maintain somewhat healthy eating.

I do the best I can with hotel gyms, but sometimes I do better with some high intensity bodyweight exercise routines right in the hotel room. Most of the time, I try to squeeze my workout in right before going to a group dinner... that way, the dinner is like my post-workout meal and the carbs are utilized better since I just depleted muscle glycogen with the workout.

Some of the most unique bodyweight workouts that I've been playing with lately are from a program called, The Bodyweight-Blueprint, and these are fantastic and REALLY unique! Check it out and you'll see what I mean.

Sometimes our schedule is really tight on these business trips, and a full workout might not even be possible. For example, on saturday, I was in the conference until 630pm and then had a group dinner planned at 7pm. So what I did was run back to my hotel room and knocked out 5 minutes of super high intensity bodyweight exercises with absolutely zero rest in between exercises, just choosing exercises such as jump lunges, jump squats, and plyo pushups to get the highest intensity possible since I only had 5 minutes to workout and then jump in the shower before the group dinner.

But hey, I made an effort to at least get something in. This is a fitness lifestyle and I have a rule that I can't go to a high calorie restaurant dinner without getting some sort of workout in first.

Now what about food choices at the airports, etc?

Well, I try to do my best with this, but sometimes you only have time for a fast-food place instead of a sit down meal. I never ever resort to Mickey D's or any junk fast food places like that! However, here's a blog post I did previously that shows one of the healthiest fast food choices I've found while traveling:

I'll be back soon with more Lean-Body Secrets newsletters.

Mike Geary
Certified Nutrition Specialist
Certified Personal Trainer