bearystrongstefan

The Lifter’s Lasagne

Comfort food for everyday life.

Lasagne is the king of comfort food. A real treat and for everybody tracking macros, a nightmare to fit into a diet. Our mission was to change this, add protein and lots of veggies without losing too much of the typical, cheesy lasagne feeling. And we are proud to say we managed to pull this off! Enjoy the Lifter’s Lasagne!

What You Should Know About Science

Limitations and why science is still great.

Evidence-based fitness is a great achievement of the last decades. As we started our fitness journey it was all about what we read in the mainstream fitness media and what we heard from other people who were training. Personal trainers were not used to read scientific publications or science reviews neither. Now as a good online coach and/or personal trainer you are expected to do this. I love science, that’s why I’ve done the PT course by Menno Henselmans, but this approach also has its limitations. In the fitness and health media landscape you can find conflicting evidence on almost every subject and often science is behind what expereinced trainees and coaches already may intuitively know. In this article I’ll explain how science is conducted, how it is possible to find proof for potentially everything and why science is still great.

Ginger Pork Stew

Wintry Japanese comfort food.

I am missing Japan. Like it sometimes hurts to look at the pictures. Therefore I grab any opportunity to bring some Japanese vibes to our little flat in Vienna. Chantal bought me a great new cookbook by Ivan Orkin (the best non-Japanese ramen chef) as a Valentine’s present and there I found a recipe for a ginger and pork dish. I was hooked immediately and gave it my personal stamp. I chose (by occasion) a little known cut of pork and added a French twist at the end. That’s my type of fusion cuisine. Give it a try, you will love it!

Easy Gulasch

Comforting and very Viennese.

Gulasch is a comfort food deeply rooted in Austro-Hungarian culture and can be quite easily adapted for dieting needs. And when dieting, we need comforting food the most. A deep bowl of hot stew to hug on a rainy day. And it is even ritch in protein, so what’s not to love about it?

The Mainstream Fitness Media Catastrophe

Open up your mind and see the truth.

It doesn’t matter if it’s by scrolling through social media or in fitness magazines or even in newspapers: the (often not so new) pseudo-fitness weirdness is everywhere.
It’s a cesspool of half-truths, outright lies and generally people who want to sell you something. If you have not been into evidence-based fitness for some time, it is sometimes difficult to see through the fog of ads and unrealistic expectations. I have written this small guide hoping that it helps you think critically when you next consume fitness media!

Cranachan Cheesecake

The perfect, Scottish way to start your day.

Scotland loving lifting foodies, I have created the perfect breakfast for you! I took inspiration at the traditional Scottish dessert as well as from Chantal’s favourite baker, Paul Holywood, and transformed it into a protein rich, calorie friendly breakfast. Curd, oats, eggs and berries make this the perfect pre-workout and generally a great way to start your day. Enjoy!

How To Monitor Your Progress

Everything you need to know to set up for long term success.

Even if you are not competing and you go to the gym because you like the feeling afterwards, or you love the idea of becoming as strong as hell, most of us want to see some kind of progress. That’s why in my opinion monitoring progress during your fitness and health journey is one of the most important factors for long time motivation and adherence. How else are you going to assess if the things you did actually lead to results? If you have no plan how to do it best, this article is for you!

Venison Stew Ramen Style

A special treat for special occasions.

I love quick and easy recipes, but sometimes I feel the need to cook something more elaborate. An occasion to test my cooking skills or to celebrate a special ingredient. This time it is a beautiful cut of game and somehow it remembers me of Japan and I decide to combine an European style stew with Japanese ramen style toppings. A great idea, as it turns out!

How To Meal Prep

Basic calculations and cooking guidelines.

Even if meal prep sounds like something only fitness freaks do, it is a very convenient and time efficient way to assure that you get something proper to eat for the whole week. It may also be a great strategy to save money since often it is cheaper to buy certain foods in bulk. Meal prep is more than just cooking something in batch and then putting the leftovers in tupper boxes, although this is already a big step in the right direction for most people who are not used to cooking. Here we delve a little deeper: distribution of protein, balancing calories and eating well while doing so.

Hazelnut Kisses

Hazelnut scent and childhood memories.

Actually, hazelnut kisses (“Haselnussbusserl” or “Haselnussmakronen”) are a classical Christmas cookie recipe in Austria. But do we need Christmas to eat cookies? We personally do not think so. This recipe has a great advantage: you can use up egg whites that are left over from other recipes, like for sabayon (zabaione) or Mailänderli or Carbonara. It is also very flexible and you can experiment with other nuts. On top this in one of my personal favorites: an easy recipe, passed down to me by my mum, a treasure, almost a heirloom. Enjoy!