Hiking the Banaue Rice Terraces

 View Point - Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines

We arrived at this small remote village in the Philippines called Banaue. And when I say "we", I mean my cousin that I just met for the very first time ever. Just so you know, this trip to the Philippines is my first time as an adult, and it's been many years since I've had communication with my family here. Oh one more thing, I'm also a filipino ha ha, just in case you didn't know =). I've been taking my cousin backpacking all throughout the Philippines because although he is from Manila, he hasn't seen a lot of his homeland, so I am happy to experience it with him.

  

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So after a 10 hour long bus ride from Manila to Banaue, we took a Tri-Motor Bike to Banaue Homestay, which was our base camp for the next few days. Our main focus was to see the Banaue Rice Terraces. The Philippines only has one "Wonder of the World" and it's the Rice Terraces of Banaue. With over 2,000 years of history, I was totally excited to put on my Inov8 212's to start trekking these ancient rice lands! Mind you that I barely had a chance to sleep on the bus to Banaue because it felt like an ice box, it was so darn cold! But that's another blog post =).

Ohayami Trans Bus - Overnight from Manila to Banaue

 (It took about 10 hours from Manila to Banaue overnight)

Taking the Tri-Motor Bike to Banaue Homestay

As soon as we arrived at Banaue Homestay, my cousin and I were immediately greeted by Beatriz who was like the manager/rock star host, I mean this lady was on top of things! Anything we needed, and anything we asked, she accommodated us 110%, and you just don't see a lot of that these days. I mean she literally provided us with "white glove service", I could not say enough good things about her and my experience at Banaue Homestay, you just have to go there and experience it!

Banaue Homestay

See my name on the very far left =)

My cousin and I with Banaue Hosts

(Beatriz is the lady on the right)

Visit Banaue Homestay - Click Here!

Upon checking in, we met some backpackers and they were about to head out on this 7 hour, 10+ mile trek through the rice terraces, and they kindly invited us to join them... at that point, even though we didn't have a lot of sleep, without hesitation, I said heck yes! And within an hour of just checking in, we jumped on top of this "old beat up" SUV and we were off to explore the 2,000 year old rice terraces which included hidden villages, as well as a good handful of majestic waterfalls.

There were a plenty of treks from 3 hours to 14 hours depending on which trail you started with, and what time you began. On day one, we treked for 7 hours (10+ miles) starting from somewhere around the Pula area, and ended up at the village of Batad. The second day was was an easier 4 hour trek which my cousin and I shaved about an hour off, we were flying through the terraces.

During both treks we stopped at various spots to take breaks and took many photos. There were a lot of steep stairs which would probably be difficult for people who have bad knees. What I really enjoyed was going through the remote villages and seeing the cute little kids. About midway through the trip, we also stopped by Cambulo and had a chance to take a dip in the Cambulo River and eat lunch in the village.

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Towards the end of our trek, it started to become pretty dark so we did not have a chance to check out the Tapiya Falls, but we'll hit it next time =). In my opinion, I highly recommend doing the longer treks with a guide because one can get easily lost going through the villages and rice terrace, it's like one gigantic maze!

From breath-taking mountain views, to countless waterfalls, to visiting untarnished villages along the way, this was definitely a trek that I will never forget and plan to come back to. Before leaving the Banaue Rice Terraces, I was able to do my 30 Burpees to add to my 100 Wonders of the World Burpee Challenge. This would be my 8th Wonder of the World, so I just have 92 more to go =)

Watch my 100 Wonders of the World Videos - Click Here!

Anyways, thanks for visiting my blog. My goal is to live life to the fullest, and help people along the way find their true potential. The world is a big place, and it awaits you. Find something that you are truly passionate about, make a good living by helping people around you, and live your life now.

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P90X + Body Beast Chest, Shoulders and Arms Hybrid Workout

Slimmers World - Makati City Philippines

I went back and finished off my last day of my 3 day pass at Slimmers World in Makati City. The 3 day gym pass was given to me by the receptionist from the hostel that I was staying at in Makati City, and I definitely took full advantage of it! I'll be heading up north from here to see the Banaue Rice Terraces which is one the the Wonders of the World, and the only "WOW" in the Philippines. So I'm pretty excited about that.

Get P90X and Body Beast Workout Sheets here!

Today I was planning to do the P90X Chest, Shoulders and Arms Workout, but I decided last minute to change it up and do a hybrid P90X/Body Beast workout instead, and it was money! It was just a straight up lifting day today, but I did do a slow 25 minute cool down run on the tread. I did walk to the gym and walked back so I also did a 5k fast walk on top of my gym workout. Everything counts people =).

So here goes, the workout starts off with a chest exercise, followed by a shoulder exercise, then a tricep exercise and repeats for 5X. If you are interested in building mass, then use heavier weight and lower the reps.

P90X/BODY BEAST - Chest, Shoulders and Tris Workout

1.
- Dumbbell Press (15 reps)
- In and Out Shoulder Flys (20)
- Tricep Dips using Bench (30)

2.
- Close Grip Chest to Fly (15)
- Military Press (15)
- Tricep Kick Backs (15 each arm)

3.
- Chest Fly (15)
- Scarecrows (10)
- Overhead Tricep Extension (15)

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4.
- Dumbbell Press Heavy (15)
- 1,2,3 Military Press (8)
- Lying Tricep Extensions on Bench

5.
- Decline Push Ups (30)
- Sagi Six Way (10)
- Overhead Tricep Extensions (15)

25 minute cool down run, then stretch.

 
I love doing hybrid workouts because it keeps thing exciting. I do not recommend the hybrid workout unless you have completed both P90X and Body Beast, or you are at an advanced fitness level, but hey...it's up to you =). It all depends on what your goals are and how your body feels. If you would like a FREE fitness program assessment, feel free to fill it out here, and I can assist you with some options to help you with your goals.

Stay active my friends!


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Body Beast Total Body Workout - Makati City, Philippines

Body Beast Total Body Workout - Makati City, Philippines

When I travel, I never make an excuse not to workout. It can get pretty challenging at times, but it's a challenge back home as well, so I try not to make it a big deal when I travel because in all reality, it's just an excuse. So I arrived in Manila, Philippines a couple days ago and the first night I arrived pretty late, so I didn't really do anything but catch up on some Beachbody business stuff. I ended up not sleeping at all since I was still trying to get use to the time change from flying in from the USA into Asia, which is a 12 hour difference. When everyone in the Makati City was sleeping, I was wide awake! =)

By the time I knew it, the sun was up and I was very excited to start my day. The night before, I met this traveler from North Dakota who's family became pretty wealthy in the oil business years ago. The cool thing about him is that he didn't act like he was wealthy, or he didn't brag about coming from a family with money. Just like most backpackers that I meet, he was more focused on what life has to offer through the gift of travel. Through my travels, I have met Harvard Grads to down-to-earth millionaires who have started tech companies, travel blogs etc. while traveling, and we all have one thing in common, travel is the best education out there, and most of the world is totally clueless when it comes to doing something that you are truly passionate about.

 Body Beast Total Body - Slimmer's World, Makati City Philippines

So it was now about 6:00 am, and my travel buddy asked me if I wanted to go ahead and hit the gym, which we talked about the night before. We talked about going at 7am, but heck....we were both up so we decided to start the day! Before taking off, the receptionist gave us a couple guest passes to this gym called Slimmer's World. The name sounded a bit weird, but we took the passes, thanked him, and went out the door. We decided to run to a Gold's Gym which was about 1.5 miles away. We figured that the run would be a good little warm up to our workout. It was pretty fun dodging cars and jeepneys along the way, and made for a nice little obstacle run. We finally arrived at the Gold's Gym on Ayala Dr. (Makati City) and requested a day pass. The receptionist told us that it would be 1000 pesos which translates to about $25 US. Now I've been to a lot of gyms when I travel, and I have never paid $25 for a day pass! I've also been to to a few Equinox Gyms around the world and made use of free passes. I mean the most I've ever paid for a day pass is about $5-$10, and that's in the USA.....so paying $25 for a day pass in the Philippines was totally ridiculous! I started thinking that maybe this girl was starting a business on the side or something lol.

We ended up leaving and decided to check out Slimmer's World (Makati City). Our passes were good for 3 days, and when we arrived at the gym, we were totally impressed. The gym had 3 levels with everything that we needed and then some. Body Beast Total Body was the workout of the day, and we added some strength body weight cardio exrecises in between the circuit sets such as burpees, plyometric jumps, and more burpees =). 

It was an awesome workout, and I am definitely looking to my second visit today! If you are ever in Makati City, I highly recommend that you check this place out. Happy travels and stay active my friends! =)

Need more tips about working out while traveling? Contact me and I'd be happy to share some tips to help you stay motivated! =)

Makati City Philippines - Jeepney

Related Links:
- Body Beast information and purchase options
- Other travel posts


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Insanity MAX 30 - Coming December 2014

Insanity MAX 30 - Coming December 2014

Are you ready for Celebrity Trainer Shaun T’s latest sweat-inducing, cardio fest? INSANITY MAX:30 (take a sneak peek - video below) is coming this December 2014 and it will be the hardest 30 minutes of your day, hands down! You’ll be challenged to push harder than ever before, and you’ll see the best results of your life. Check this out, the program will have over 150 new moves and sequences featuring killer cardio and tabata strength workouts. There’s no equipment needed and there will be a low-impact modifier in every workout so anyone can push to their MAX.

 Insanity MAX 30 - Find Your Max!

How Does It Work?
It’s time to max out your workouts! What does the heck does that mean? To “MAX OUT” means to stop or fail for the first time in the workout. In INSANITY MAX:30, it's not about getting through all 30 minutes, it's about going as hard as you can for as long as you can, until you MAX OUT. When you start INSANITY MAX:30, you might only get through the first 5 minutes before you MAX OUT. Just record your MAX OUT time, catch your breath, and continue for as long as you can. Track your MAX OUT times over the course of the program. As long as you MAX OUT, you'll get MAX RESULTS in 60 days guaranteed!

Insanity MAX 30 is now available - Get the Challenge Pack now!

Take a SNEAK PEEK of the Insanity MAX 30 workout!

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To get the LATEST updates and information on the NEW Insanity MAX 30, make me your FREE Coach now - Click Here! And you will get information as soon as the workout is released, plus exciting details on my Insanity MAX 30 Challenge (Test Group). It's time to FIND YOUR MAX!

Related Links:
- What is the Beachbody Challenge?
- Free Online Fit Club
- More Shaun T Workouts

Creator of Insanity MAX 30 - Shaun T and I

What's In My Backpack?

What's in my Backpack? Southeast Asia

Hey guys, I'm about to leave for my backpacking trip to Asia, and I am pretty excited! A lot of people have been asking me what I pack when I take off for a backpacking trip, so I decided to post a blog about it and make a quick video (below). Here are the things that I pack in my carry-on Patagonia Backpack: (please note, the list below changes depending on where I am going, and how long I travel)

My Backpacking List for Southeast Asia: (approx. 2 months)
- 10 Tank Tops
- 6 Workout Tops
- 5 Tees
- 3 Convertible Pants (pants that can also be converted to shorts. Also weather resistant with lots of pockets)
- 1 Pair Inov8 All-Terrain Shoes
- 1 Pair Sanuk Flip Flops
- 1 Pair Running/Workout Shoes (what I will be wearing when I depart USA)
- Agility Ladder (for my workouts)
- Jump Rope
- 2 Go Pros
- 1 Portable Hard Drive (I'll be taking a lot of footage!)
- 2 USB (I have some of my Beachbody Workouts on there)
- Power Cords
- Toiletries Bag
- 30 Day Supply of Shakeology (getting another 30 day supply shipped to me in Thailand)
- 1 Shaker Cup
- 1 Micro Fiber Towel (perfect for travel, doesn't take up a lot of room, and packs tight)
- 3 Under Compression (who knows, I might find a race while I'm there)
- 1 Drawstring Strap Bag (I use this when exploring different cities)
- iPhone (don't call me, just email me or facebook me, I am bringing it for emergency purposes to stay in contact with my daughter)
- iPad (when I'm too lazy to use my macbook, oh and to watch Netflix)
- Macbook (this is how I run my Beachbody Coaching business around the world)
- Passport
- Lucky Travel Charms from my Mom =)

And that's it guys! Although I plan to only be in Asia for a couple months, this would be the same list for even a whole year of travel in Asia. Keep in mind that as I travel, I purchase things along the way and also leave things behind, but truth be told, I will never carry more than I need in one backpack. If I buy something and it doesn't somehow fit in my backpack, I simply just find a postal office and ship it back home. My goal is to always travel as light as possible.

Feel free to watch my video below and see how I pack all of this stuff into one Carry-On Patagonia Backpack!

What's In My Backpack? Check out my VIDEO:

I never leave without my Shakeology! Try it risk-free, and you'll see why =)
Chocolate, Vegan Chocolate, Vegan Tropical Strawberry, Strawberry, Vanilla, Greenberry

Top 10 Reasons Why Athletes Are Terrible Entrepreneurs

Now before you begin reading this post, please note that I am an athlete and an entrepreneur. More of an extreme sports athlete, I've raced mountain bikes and have been obstacle course racing since 2011. This post is based on my own experience through years of being around elite athletes of all sports genres. Some of the information below has been given to me by the athletes themselves.

Top 10 Reasons Why Athletes Are Terrible Entrepreneurs:

1. SPONSORSHIPS - Athletes have worked hard to get where they are, and companies see this as a way to market their products so they approach these athletes with free products and gear. A lot of these athletes then promote these products just for free swag, races, exposure, but very rarely get paid. Instead of relying on sponsorships, why not try business and partner affiliations and get paid for products that you really use and believe in. Build your dream, not theirs!

2. MINDSET - The mindset of most athletes is to be the best at what they do, unfortunately it doesn't mean being the best at making business or money making decisions. Companies make money from these great athletes, I think it's time for athletes to change their mindset and begin educating themselves about taking their talents and earning a living with something they are passionate about. It's time to become entrepreneurs, and not just an athlete with an employee mindset.

3. "I Just Love What I Do" - I hear this a lot from athletes. They say they love what they do and then they continue to go to a job that they don't like on Mondays. People who love what they do, they do it for a living. Pro Football Players do what they love to do and get paid. Why not start a business on the side to help you do your passion full time and one day you will be able REALLY DO WHAT YOU LOVE, and not just say you do.

4. FEAR - Athletes are great people. They have earned respect from a lot of people, and they have credibility. That's great, but what happens when you can't play football anymore, or race elite at a Spartan Race, what's next? Athletes are BEASTS by nature but have a fear of venturing out of their comfort zones. By the time they retire from their sport, most of them are dead broke or struggle to make ends meet. Why not get the knuckle up and diversify while you are still on top, so when you're done playing top athlete, you will still be able to stay afloat. Become an entrepreneur, sponsorships are temporary.

5. CLOSE-MINDED - This is a big one. Athletes are so set on their own ways sometimes it cripples them. Most athletes are used to getting hand outs and so many times they expect to get things for free. They expect to be offered business partnerships without even doing their own research or work on their end just because they are an athlete. Be smart, understand that business is totally different from athletic training and be open to learning about ideas that could benefit you in the future instead of expecting things to fall on your plate all the time.

6. TRUST - It's difficult to find trust in anything that you do which involves business. Some athletes trust too easy, while others have a 12 foot wall around them. Athletes like to keep a lot of things private because they train to be the best, and that's understandable. If they give away their secrets, then someone else will be the best, and they don't want that. But in order to excel, athletes have to find trust in a coach, accountability partner etc to keep them on point. Business works in the same way. Search for a person that you can trust, someone who has credibility, and someone who is focused on your goals (not theirs), and allow them help you build a future business....together!

7. STUBBORN - Some athletes think they know everything. Yes, they are great at running, catching, surfing etc. but if you want to continue having companies (and a boss) run your life then it's time to listen and begin getting some sound BUSINESS advice. This is where you can stop running and start listening because your future is at stake.

8. RESIDUAL INCOME - Most athletes don't have a clue about passive residual income (Income that keeps on coming in even though you are not working). Pro Athletes live off of endorsements, sponsorship deals etc. But if you're not one of those big time athletes then this might be something that you should be looking into otherwise you'll be working a lot harder (for the rest of your life) then how you are training now.

9. BAD INFLUENCE - The cool thing about athletes is that they all ban together like brothers and sisters. The camaraderie is insane! But when it come to business, some athletes consult the wrong people. Like anything, if you want advice on having a good relationship with your spouse, you don't talk to someone who has relationship issues! Business is the same way, if you want to run a successful business, you get advice and direction from someone who is successful in the business, not someone who has failed or knows nothing about business. It's called the BASICS.

10. DON'T HAVE WHAT IT TAKES - Let's face it, becoming an entrepreneur is tough. Most people don't have the mental toughness to become successful business owners because of the fear of selling, getting rejected left and right, and the big "D" delayed gratification, people just want success now, and it just doesn't work that way. Athletes endure lots of pain, so you would think that they would make good entrepreneurs, but that's not always the case. Just like anything, if you don't BELIEVE you can, then you're absolutely right!
 


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Travel Is My Passion

 Travel is my Passion!

My backpacking trip to Asia is fast approaching and I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am! I had my first taste of traveling abroad back in 2001 when I backpacked Europe and visited 5 countries. It was an amazing experience that I still continue to talk about till this day. After that trip, I knew that travel was something that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The question is, how could I do it?

Many years have past since then, I have been able to go on other backpacking trips, but I was always pressured to come back because of finances. Just like many backpack travelers, I also worked hard, saved what I could, so that I could go on to the next trip. That method started to get old. I wanted to find a way that I could still work and travel, but it had to be something that I was passionate about, something that I loved doing, and I wanted to make sure that it was something that I could do to help people.

Check out my VIDEO from Semuc Champey - Guatemala

After many trials and tribulations, and failed business projects, I stumbled upon the Beachbody Coaching Opportunity. I actually graduated from P90X, which most of you know is one of Beachbody's #1 selling fitness programs, and one of the most extreme workout programs. At the time, I did not know that Beachbody offered an opportunity for their customers to become ambassadors (Independent Business Owners - Coaches) for their products, and once I found out, I was very excited about it. I didn't start off as someone who wanted to start a Beachbody Coaching Business, I just wanted the discounts on the supplements. Who wants to pay retail for anything right? But as I got more and more involved, people began to get inspired by my dedication and passion for health and fitness, and they wanted me to coach them! And that is how my hobby for fitness turned into a business. My Beachbody Coaching business has now allowed me to do things that I have only dreamed of. In only 2 years (of consistent hard work) I was able to quit 3 of my jobs and become a full time Beachbody Coach. The most exciting part is that I run my business completely online, which means that I could be anywhere around the world and run my business just as long as I have an internet connection! So remember when I was asking myself how I was going to be able to travel the world? Well, I finally found a financial vehicle, and all it took was for me to make a decision to start a fitness journey and help others achieve their goals.

For more information on P90X - click here!

Travel to me is like paradise. When I am not home, I actually feel like I am home. Travel also challenges me because everywhere you go, there are obstacles such as having to learn different languages, getting lost, figuring out what you're eating, and dealing with border patrol =). But that's all part of it, the adventure, and that is what I long for.

I have met so many people who have never left their city or country that they were born in, and that is mind-blowing. To me, the absolute best education is travel. I've met so many people during my travels, people who have left their corporate jobs to live freely, students who wanted to travel but never made it back home because they found their passion, and the list goes on. You hear it all the time when people are stressed at work, they say "I need a vacation", and I say, "don't take a vacation, just travel".

I will be leaving for Asia next week. I do not have an itinerary, I don't have a tour guide, and I don't even have a return ticket. I will be posting updates here on my blog if you want to stay posted on some of the exciting places that I will be visiting. As usual, everywhere that I go I will be spreading the word of health and fitness to the world. Because remember, if it wasn't for my health and fitness, I would not have the opportunity to travel the world, and for that, I am forever thankful.

Travel is my passion....what is yours?

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