My Top 5 YouTube Fitness Channels for Making All Kinds of Gains…All Kinds

YouTube’s fitness scene has significantly developed over the years and now offers a seemingly endless number of fitness channels started by people with varying degrees of production quality, content accuracy, and creativity.  Merely reading about weightlifting fails to truly capture the complete message, as weightlifting is focused on movement, which must be observed to be completely understood.  Of course, there is no better portal to observe video than YouTube.  I have listed my favorite 5 YouTube channels (in no particular order) that I have grown to enjoy over the past year or so.  They differ in their purpose, but all offer solid production quality and are highly entertaining to watch.  So start to tune in, and set yourself on the path to making gains…all kindz of gains.

1. OmarIsuf

Name: Omar Isuf

Origin: Canada

Focus: Powerlifting, Strength programming, some Bodybuilding, & Humor (alter ego – Brady Brosef)

Why you should watch: Omar is super knowledgeable about powerlifting, but isn’t afraid to admit where he falls short.  In these cases, he brings in expert guests to fill in the gaps.  Also, Omar is very likable, easygoing, and just fun to watch.

Trademark: His hair, amazing self-made T-shirts, staunch supporter of team no-calves

 

2. PhysiquesOfGreatness

Name: Chris Jones

Origin: Texas

Focus: Bodybuilding

Why you should watch: Chris is just so entertaining to watch due to seemingly never ending slogans, he has segments on cooking healthy (practical) foods, and overall offers very straightforward educational advice on building an aesthetic body.

Trademark: Referring to his viewers as “homies & homettes”, hilarious slogans (e.g. “Bicep peaks that make them girls’ knees go weak”), GAF Cooking (Good As F*ck), his dog Bruno, YouTube commentators hating on his partner Vince for being on an endless bulk (e.g. getting fat)

 

3. CanditoTrainingHQ

Name: Jonnie Candito

Origin: Ohio

Focus: Powerlifting, Strength

Why you should watch: Elite powerlifter giving very clear, objective information on building strength and creating effective programs for novices and experienced lifters, alike.

Trademark: The dude puts up a ton of weight, has legs like tree trunks, and has massive bug eyes

 

4. Mike Rashid

Name: Mike Rashid

Origin: Long Beach, CA

Focus: Motivation, Bodybuilding

Why you should watch: Mike is a competition bodybuilder, entrepreneur, and overall beast in the gym. His work capacity involved in the “overtraining” style of working out is incredible.  Watch these videos before you go to the gym and you will be ready to life heavy as hell.

Trademark: Wearing casual clothing while lifting (including squatting in boots), having a massive yet shredded physique, overtraining work out style, getting good money (those last reps you painfully push out before reaching failure)

 

5. TwinMuscleWorkout

Name: Lord Keith & Lord Kevin Hodge

Origin: Not sure

Focus: Bodybuilding

Why you should watch: These two are absolutely hilarious.  Not the most useful workout advice, but super entertaining to watch and listen to their commentary.

Trademark: MAKING ALL KINDZ OF GAINZ…ALL KINDZ, avoiding “Snap City” (lifting too much and hurting yourself), they are identical twins

Kiesza urges you to be yourself in her new video for “Giant In My Heart”

Leaving Kiesza’s smash hit & music video “Hideaway” off of my top summer deep house list was extremely tough for me to do. Perhaps it was even a mistake. I believe it. However, I figured I’d give Kiesza some redemption and a post of her own. I came across the music video to her follow up hit, “Giant In My Heart”, the other day and loved it. Kiesza’s message in much of her music is the power of individuality and she certainly expresses that in this video. On an even deeper level, this video illustrates the difference between merely “enduring” the pains of something we feel like we have to do vs. enjoying who we really are with the grand degree of confidence that comes along with it – something I think all people struggle with in their lives.

Duke Dumont: Electronic Music’s King of Music Videos (Oh, and the songs are sick too)

Duke Dumont has quickly become one of my favorite artists in electronic music.  But what I have recently realized is that, beyond the mastery of the songs themselves, Dumont’s music videos are absolute gems.  Check out the top 3 below!

1. Duke Dumont – Need You (100%) ft. A*M*E

The literal soundtrack to your life.

2. Duke Dumont – Won’t Look Back

What else do you need besides pogo-sticking robbers?!

3. Duke Dumont – I Got U

The main reason I moved to Singapore. Seriously.  Please Facebook – turn Oculus Rift into this device and I will never leave my living room.

5 Female Artists You Need To Start Listening To…Like Now

It appears as though we are experiencing a female takeover of the music scene in 2014 and during the final months of year, we still have so much to look forward to.  More and more these days, I find my heavily rotated artists to be female and I’m definitely not complaining. The following lineup of females exemplify a variety of musical styles, bring something uniquely their own to the table, and exhibit strength and confidence in their individuality – none of that cookie cutter female pop music.  No matter if you are trying to turn up or turn down, the following list of females will have something for you. Some you may have heard of already and others may be new names at the moment. But rest assured, you will have heard of these females soon enough – They are here to stay!

1. BANKS

BANKS

There is no other way to put it – BANKS’s music is downright sexy. This is the perfect late night music: melodic, dark, and full of the feelz. Each song exhibits BANKS’s vulnerability & strength at the same time. Her style is extremely refreshing as well – dark, gritty, emotional, yet incredibly seductive. After touring with The Weeknd and crushing the festival tour this past year, BANKS is on the fast track to becoming huge. Look out for her album, “Goddess”, dropping Sept 9th!

 

2. Jhene Aiko

Jhene Aiko

Jhene Aiko

I had heard Jhene a few times before, but I wasn’t completely sold until I heard her hit song, “Bed Peace”, after the Childish Gambino feature peaked my interest. I swear I could listen to that track on repeat still and be perfectly happy – judge me if you want. Jhene has an amazing ability to tell stories with her music and make you truly share her emotions. Though I can’t relate lyrically all the time, it doesn’t matter. I just go along for the emotional rollercoaster. After watching many interviews with her, Jhene is such a unique individual that I can’t wait to see what else she has to offer in years to come – starting with her album dropping Sept 9th! Oh and she is absolutely gorgeous – that doesn’t hurt either.

 

3. Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware

Hailing from London, Jessie Ware has made a huge splash in a short period of time. She isn’t brand new by any means though, with her debut album, “Devotion,” doing well led by the popular single “Wildest Moments” (A super powerful song that you should give a listen to). However, Jessie is now gearing up for the much anticipated release of her second album “Tough Love” due out Oct 22 in North America (sooner in Europe). Not going to lie, I’m a bit late to the fan train with Jessie, as I first truly heard her in the hot Disclosure track, “Confess to Me,” but I’m already a believer. Beautiful voice, great vocal range, and the polish of an artist far more seasoned than herself. Don’t sleep on her.

 

4. Seinabo Sey

Sey Seinabo

Sey Seinabo

Like many others, I discovered Sey from Kygo’s smash remix of her single “Younger.” Like many electronic remixes I love, I wondered how different the original song was than the remix, as well as if it was possibly even better? In this case, I was not disappointed. It’s not fair to say that one is better than the other, as the styles are completely different – a tribute to Seinabo’s voice and to Kygo’s remix mastery. With such a distinctive voice, even her second single was used as a sample to another smash EDM hit from Galantis “Hard Times.” Clearly she is on to something here. Hailing from Sweden, Seinabo Sey is new to the scene and does not have much material out yet. But if her first couple of singles are any indication of what’s to come, we should all be excited.

 

5. Jess Glynne

Jess Glynne

Jess Glynne

So the list of artists in this list so far offer generally slower songs. Thus, I figured I should end the list on a more upbeat note. There is no better lady for the job than Jess Glynne. She has sprung onto the scene with vocal performances on the two smash hits of the summer – Clean Bandit “Rather Be” & Route 94 “My Love.” After listening to these two tracks all spring/summer on repeat (literally thanks to my roommate), I wondered if she had any music of her own. To my joy, Jess is preparing for a solo album as well, with her first single “Right Here” sounding like an absolute hit. The cominations of energetic vocals and smooth bass-lines make Jess tough to look past.

Penang, Malaysia: Good Eats & Fine Arts

Following the day in Langkawi, I ferried back to mainland Malaysia to spend the day in Penang.  Going into the day, I had absolutely zero plans.  All I knew about Penang was that the food was supposed to be incredible, but other than that, I didn’t have a clue.  However, while on the long ferry ride, I discovered that Penang actually had a recently developed street art scene that began a few years back.  Tucked away in small alleys and around random corners throughout the city were really unique pieces of artwork from both local and foreign street artists, which has been encouraged by the city for the past couple of years.  So between the food and art, my day was pretty much set and I took off to wander every nook of the city.

It turned out to be an amazing way to experience the city, forcing me to explore every side street and alley way, which enabled me to find super coffee shops, food stalls, and local shops.  To start, the food lived up to the hype.  I went with traditional Indian for lunch, Malaysia for a afternoon snack, and Chinese for dinner.  Let me tell you – Tek Sen, my dinner place of choice, was a master class in traditional Chinese food.  As I like to do, I told the waiter to just bring me out all of the specials.  While I can assure you that it was one of the best meals I have had since arriving in SE Asia, I unfortunately can’t say what exactly I ate!  I definitely didn’t mind.  I arrived just 15 min before opening, which turned out to be a crucial decision, as the line quickly swelled soon after the official opening time.

Dinner spot  - Tek Sen

Dinner spot – Tek Sen

Outside the food, Penang turned out to offer an amazing array of coffee shops.  Perhaps I had a bit of Seattle nostalgia, but I definitely stayed heavily caffeinated throughout the day.  If you find yourself in Malaysia, their coffee chain, Kaffa Espresso, puts Starbucks to shame – great tunes, smooth roasts, and an urban chic atmosphere.

Kaffa Espresso

Kaffa Espresso

Finally, the surprising highlight of the day actually ended up being the street art. Penang offered a truly unique array of pieces – many of which blended graffiti with actual objects. Many of the works were hidden in random alleyways, which made the hunt a fun part of the experience. Here are a few of my favorites!

Brother & Sister on a swing

Brother & Sister on a swing

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Kung Fu girl

Little motorbike bro

Rickshaw bro

Rickshaw bro

Reaching for the cookie jar?

Reaching for the cookie jar?

#ballin

#ballin

What you got in that pot?

What you got in that pot?

Lastly, I wanted to mention one cool thing I learned in Penang. All over the streets outside of residences and shops, I saw people burning small fires (see below) and making in rain fake money over top, which they burned. After leaving Penang I looked up the meaning of this ritual. It turns out that this is a super old practice – when family/friends pass away, surviving family members burn money and clothing so that the deceased are well cared for in the afterlife. Essentially, it’s a ritual to pay respects to relatives passed away. The more you know!

Malaysia ritual to pay respect to passed relatives

Malaysia ritual to pay respect to passed relatives

Overall, I had an unexpected blast in Penang. Some of the best trips in life are definitely unplanned. Once in awhile, don’t be afraid to be a bit spontaneous and let the day come to you!

There is hope in even the most barren of circumstances

There is hope in even the most barren of circumstances