Let Your Mortality Serve As Motivation

Guys, I have something a bit personal to share with you today. I got a call from my mom yesterday, and she told me that my Auntie had finally passed on after a four year long battle with cancer. Since my mom had been to see her the last couple of weekends, I knew that she was literally on her death bed, so the news wasn’t that shocking to me. However, thinking back from the time that she was first given 4 months to live, more than four years ago, until she finally died on this past Thursday, compelled me to share something with you, but I ask that you bear with me as I make my point.

My Auntie was a strong and proud woman who taught me many things, especially the family gardening secrets that she learned from my great-grandma. So, my avid love for gardening or just growing plants in general was definitely nurtured by her. She also constantly encouraged me as I worked and struggled my way through my Masters and PhD programs by allowing me to rent out her basement. I was experiencing really tough times as a poor, hungry, and jobless grad student, and I would have been homeless if it weren’t for her taking me in. (more…)

The Skill of Losing Weight – Series Introduction

Five years ago, I decided to take control of my life once and for all, just like the countless number of guys will do this year. So, what makes the start of their journey different from mine? Did I know more than they did before I started? Well unless having back issues of Men’s Health made me some sort of weight loss stud, then I guess I did. But, we know that wasn’t the case.

Now that I’ve lost my extra chub, I get “So, what’s the secret Muata?” or “How can I lose weight like you?”. Well fellas, one of my New Year’s gift to you is that I’m going to answer that question for you; however, I’m going to take a different approach . . . a really different approach. (more…)

Starting Measurements, Workout, and Diet Posted …

Hey Fellas, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve posted my starting measurements (compared with those of Sandow’s), the workout(s) I will be doing for the next 6 weeks, and my daily diet requirements for my 12 Week In Search of Sandow Body Transformation. Feel free to check them out at my other blog:

In Search of Sandow

MLBF’s "In Search of Sandow" Body Transformation Challenge

I’ve always been told that I have an old soul. I’ve always credited this to my hanging out with many of my mom’s friends at a young age, which caused me to think differently from many of my peers. Well, this has continued well into my adult years because I consider myself, as the ESPN Classic commercial used to say, Old School!

Whether it’s driving a 20+ year-old Mercedes Turbo Diesel, blasting Eric B and Rakim’s My Melody (where are my hip-hop historians), or using fitness equipment that has been around for over 100 years (e.g, kettlebells), I enjoy using and studying about classics. Well, when it comes to the male physique, I’m really old school when I look for inspiration. While there have been great and marvelous physiques over the decades, one has always stood out to me as a physique that just about any man can achieve with hard work and the proper information about nutrition and exercise. And that was the physique of no one other that the great Eugene Sandow–the father of modern bodybuilding! (more…)

Grow Your Own Food in 2008

Well, not too many people know, but MrLowBodyFat is also a home hydroponics gardener. That’s right, I’ve grown ‘maters, cukes, watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, chiles, gourds, and tomatillos to name a few. What’s really crazy is that I grew all of them without using dirt! For more information on hydroponics, click here. And, to see some of the gardens, hydro and traditional, that I’ve had since 2004, feel free to check out my public web albums. (more…)

Don’t Be This Guy in 2008

It’s finally here–2008! This is the year that you have made the decision to finally start your weight loss journey. You made your New Year’s resolution a month early and joined the gym to show yourself that you are really determined this time. In addition to your new gym membership, you’ve picked up a tub of Whey Protein, fat burners made from Artic sea weed (that promise you can lose weight without exercising), and your trusty tube of man-boob eliminator cream.

But, you don’t stop there. You figured that since you’re going to the gym, you have to dress the part, right? So, you go out and buy new workout gear, with matching shoes, towel, and weight lifting gloves. You decided against buying a weightlifting belt this week, but plan on coming back for it. (more…)