Beary Strong

Training Intensiveness

How hard should you train?

How hard you should train is an important variable in training and I think many people lose a lot of time durdling around at the gym without making any progress because they fail to implement enough intensiveness. But does everybody have to go “balls to the wall”, or are there finer nuances to it? And what are the drawbacks of high intensiveness? Well, let’s take a look!

Pan De Mej

Corn bread the Italian way

My hometown is Milan, one of Italy’s biggest cities and famous for its fashion. I don’t travel back often because my parents are here in Austria most of the time. To be honest I don’t miss the city that much even if it has its own beauty and there are places, memories and food that are unique to Milan. One of the most traditional but less known sweets is pan de mej, a hybrid between corn bread and corn cookies. The recipe is a winner: it is incredibly easy and delicious. Soft, not too sweet and an incredible corn flavour. Give these cookies a try, I am sure you will like them!

Healthy Eating On A Budget

Tips and tricks to save your wallet while eating like a king.

Many people think that eating in a healthy way is very expensive, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Buying and cooking in a smart way can save you a lot of money! But first of all, remember that not investing in your health (and this includes not buying the best food you can afford) probably isn’t the best idea in the long run. Also think about why some foods are as cheap as they are. Somebody in the production chain has to pay for that. Who is it going to be? You did the first step in the right direction by reading this article, therefore here are my favourite ways on saving up some money when doing the groceries. Enjoy reading, set a couple of my advices in practice and you are on the best way on eating healthy without spending a fortune!

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!

The Waning Power Of Genetics

A deeper insight on the role of genetics and the new trend of genetic testing.

In the evidence-based natural bodybuilding scene it is currently very popular to make genetics responsible for all the good results (mostly of someone else) or blame genetics for not achieving goals (mostly the own ones). Compared to the 90’s and the early 2000’s, genetics is very tangible as genetic tests are sold as a solution to fix diet and training. Long-time readers of the blog know my opinion on it, but I’ll repeat it again: you should rather invest your money in healthy food and a good coach than on expensive DNA testing, since their validity is still very questionable. Nevertheless, genes do play a huge role, especially in elite sports, but a lot of us do focus a bit too much on it and limit themselves by blaming genetics and resigning too soon.

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!