John Parrillo constructed an entire training philosophy on a bedrock foundation of hard work. Systems and methods and theories are all fine and good and make for great brain candy but the Parrillo tactical approach to bodybuilding is dependent on superhuman intensity, both in weight training and aerobics. We asked the Master Blaster to outline his approach to hard work and he offered an extremely illustrative example. “We have had tremendous response (and packed-house attendance) to our newly-instituted Parrillo Two Day Intensive Bodybuilding Training Camps; lots of serious physique men and women travel in from around the country to our combination seminar/workshops. At the camp’s conclusion I informally poll participants on what their strongest impression had been and almost to a person the first thing out of their mouths is that they had no idea how hard we trained.” John expounded on the revelations camp participants undergo. “It shocks the hell out of them.

Step One: Eat fewer starchy carbohydrates. Reducing your intake of starchy carbohydrates – potatoes, yams, whole grains, and brown rice, for example – is an amazing way to start stripping away fat. Metabolically, this dietary reduction helps shift your body into a fat-burning mode. Your body simply starts burning fat for energy, since there is a deficit of carbs in your body. How much of a reduction will work? A good rule of thumb is to adjust your carbohydrate-to-protein ratio to between 1 to 1 or 1.5 to 1. Be aware that one problem with reducing carbohydrate intake is a potential decline in your energy levels. To compensate, try supplementing your diet with CapTri®, our medium-chain triglyceride oil (MCT oil). This is a special type of lipid that provides quality calories and, unlike conventional dietary fats, is not likely to be stored as body fat. Calorie for calorie, CapTri contributes less to body weight gain (fat gain) than carbohydrates or conventional dietary fat.