The Aging Movement

Hey Fitters!
 Firstly, thank you Lonny for tonight's blog post topic! If any of you readers have an idea, post it in the comments below.

 Tonight's topic is personal to all of us. We're all doing it. I'm doing it, you're doing it, the Queen of England is doing it RIGHT NOW! It is the act of aging. It is inevitable, and as it happens, our body's needs change. But something that maybe people don't realize is this:

The needs of every individual differ by degree, NOT by kind.

Every human being needs to better themselves in the ten aspects of fitness (check out this Post to see those aspects). What an Olympic speed skater and what your grandmother need to support their quality of life is the same in that they need to develop their strength, coordination, agility, etc. However, while Apollo may be doing 185 pound explosive front squats to cut a tenth of a second, Bertha is doing box squats holding a 10 pound dumbbell at her chest. Both are the same movements that elicit the same stresses to the body, but differ by degree (speed, weight, depth) But why? Why do work on a movement that she won't be doing in real life? Let's think about it.

As we age, what is it we want to be able to do as long as possible? I think most of us would agree that it is to live independently. Would you rather live to be 85, visiting family hundreds of miles away and hiking in the woods, or live to be 110 in a chair in your house, with hospice taking care of you? Whatever your choice, we can agree that the second does not sound appealing. So by doing a weighted squat, Bertha is training her mobility through a squatting motion, as well as developing (or at least maintaining) muscle mass. This allows her to get out of a chair on her own, walk up and down stairs, step off curbs, get in and out of her car, all on her own. This allows her to maintain her independence well into her golden years.

With all of that being said, there are things we can focus on as we age to continue our quality of life, which are also the things we tend to lose as we age. The main aspects of fitness I believe we should focus on as we age are:

Mobility/Flexibility - As we get older, our muscles become less supple, and muscle imbalances cause us to not be able to move our joints through full range of motion. It is imperative that we work to maintain mobility through these ranges so we can continue to use our joints the way they are intended.

Strength - Along with muscles becoming more immobile, we also lose a great deal of muscle mass. To combat this, it is important to use resistance training (weighted exercises) to build and maintain muscle mass. This is what helps insure that we can get out of that chair, and keep getting up when we are down.

Balance - "I can't do that, I don't have any balance." I've heard this time and again from everyone from 75 year old men to 28 year old women.  Balance isn't like brown hair, it isn't genetic, you gain it by practice (which is how you work your neurological system, as opposed to training, which benefits things like strength, endurance, and other "organic" bodily changes). So if you want better balance, you have to work on your balance. And most injuries that occur to the older population occur via falls, making balance vital.

So now I tell you how to train for these things, right? Sorry, there is no way I could do that in one post, it would be an endless list. And moreover, everyone has different needs, even in their mobility (shoulders, ankles, hips, etc.) strength (hamstrings, shoulders, etc.) and balance (stand on one foot, stand on tiptoes with eyes closed, balance on a beam, etc.). So to truly learn more, you can continue to read my blog, look for more information on your specific needs with resources such as the internet, or even visit a personal trainer like myself and start preparing for living well the rest of your life!

Stay Fit.

Try telling this man "That's just a part of getting old." Don't let someone else's sorry excuse become your "reasoning" to live a poorer life. Squat, jump, run, lunge, pull, push. LIVE. Until the very day you stop, LIVE.

Don't Jump 29 Inches for a 30 Inch Box Jump

Greetings Fitters!
 We are going to talk tonight about commitment. We all make commitments on a regular basis, and since we are all humans, we have all given up on some from time to time, including myself. Some small commitments that come to mind are things like starting a strength training cycle, only to give up before the entire cycle is complete. Here recently, I made a commitment that I did not follow through with that cost me some immediate pain (and a little skin off my shin). Those who are friends with me on Facebook (if you aren't, please feel free to add me!) saw a picture of the aftermath of me missing a 30 inch box jump today. It wasn't pretty, but it made me consider some life lessons.

Why do we commit to actions? Why is it important to stay committed to an idea or action once we begin?

Remembering why we began: Usually, if it is something worth it, we begin an endeavor for very good reasons. It may start off unalterable, but over time we may lose our path or logic behind why we began. It is important to take time now and again refocus our efforts, so that we not only stay committed, but stay moving in the right direction.

Committing to the Big Picture: I personally try to make sure that the endeavors I commit to are ones that will assist me in the bigger picture of life. I make sure the things I commit to will help myself grow as a leader in fitness and wellness, or grow as a husband or family member, or to be a better athlete. I enjoy helping people as much as possible, but if my commitment isn't going to help that, I won't be able to give it 100%, and it would be better off in the hands of someone who can commit all the way. The next time you are asked to commit to something, ask yourself this: Will this help me be a better person, in the ways I believe a person can be better?

100% Commitment: 100% commitment is vital in two facets. The first is that you must commit yourself completely to the idea. If it is worth taking up your valuable time (life is too short not to do something you find worthwhile) then commit to it 100%. If I had committed to that 30 inch box, I would have kept all of my skin today. Instead I became lax, forgetting to give everything I had into that jump, and I suffered for it.

 Secondly, committing to something 100% means that you are going to see the thing to its completion. Remembering why you began is a great way to assist you in making sure you complete the task. If you can remember why you started this commitment in the first place, and remind yourself that it is to help the Big Picture, you are more likely to finish. After I cracked my shin on that box, I stepped away, perhaps said a few choice words under my breath, and I went back and jumped on that box. Because I knew those jumps (in conjunction with the rest of the workout), were going to help improve my fitness.


Making commitments like this, be it large or small, can be challenging, and sometimes frightening, as commitments usually come with a great deal of change and sacrifice. But if you can remember why you began, align your commitments with the big picture, and be 100% committed, you are more likely to see this thing (that we call life) to the end, and make the world a better place for it. Stay committed my friends.

Stay Fit.

The 12 Days of Christmas Workout

 Merry Christmas Fitters!
 And happy holidays to everyone. Since it is ever so timely, I want to share a very fun workout scheme that is great for the holidays, The 12 Days of Christmas. The gist of it is this......take 12 workouts, but them in a list, and put the numbers 1-12 in front of it. Start with the first movement, do one rep. Then do two reps of the second movement, and one of the first movement, then three reps of the third movement, two reps of the second movement, and one rep of the first movement. Repeat until you have done all twelve movements, returning to the other movements each time. Think "One first day of Christmas my first love gave to me, One Burpee. On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, Two Dumbbell Thrusters and One Burpee. One the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,  Three Power Cleans, Two Dumbbell Thrusters, and One Burpee....".

This is a great way to do a lot of work in "little time" (this can take up to 20-30 minutes, depending on your intensity and the moves you choose). It is also a fun way to workout, as you are not spending too much time on a single exercise. You can also do it with any type of exercise, which makes it versatile and mobile (you can do it anywhere!). A tip in making selecting your exercises: Keep the heavier exercises (cleans, deadlifts, heavier deadlifts) towards the beginning (1,2, or 3 reps at a time), or at the end (11 or 12, but only done once or twice).

Here is an example of The 12 Days of Christmas (in this one, you would need a barbell loaded with a challenging weight that could be used for all barbell exercises):

1 Burpee

2 Dumbbell Thrusters
3 Power Cleans
4 Deadlifts
5 Box Jumps
6 Pushups
7 Jumping Lunges
8 1-arm Dumbbell Snatches
9 Kettlebell Swings
10 Squats
11 Pullups
12 Manmakers

Here's to celebrating the holidays fitness-style!

Stay Fit.

Having and Eating Your "Cake"

Greetings Fitters,
 And Happy Christmas Eve, and whichever holiday you celebrate in your home. As the holiday comes upon us, I as a fitness professional reflect on the nutritional choices that all of my clients will be facing in the next few days. The stresses and the worries they will face as they drive to their family events, anticipating the decisions they will have to make, or fearing the guilt they will undoubtedly feel after they indulge.

I feel for them, and for everyone who goes through these holiday woes. But it is unnecessary, as long as we know how to approach the festivities.

For the holidays, and for every time of the year that isn't a holiday, it is important to remember: we are all human. And like most humans, we have all partaken in some less than healthy foods. It is borderline impossible to eat the healthiest of foods all of the time. And the energy and worry that we place into it is utterly exhausting. So what can we do to avoid those types of foods?

Built in Cheat Days: Allowing yourself a meal throughout the week to indulge is great for a lot of different reasons. One, it allows you to enjoy the foods you....enjoy. Secondly, it gives you a release from the pressure of eating healthy all day every day. It also gives you something to plan and look forward to each week. That being said, don't take advantage of the cheat day. Build one big meal in one day a week, and stick with it. Even plan out the very specifics of the meal. "I'm going to go have the pasta dish at (insert favorite restaurant) with a glass of wine." The rest of the week, keep it healthy (see The Magical Formula for Weight Loss). A great place to start? Well...tomorrow is Christmas. Keep it your cheat day, and then start planning out once a week for a meal out, homemade pizza, etc.

Even an athletic superstar like the Rock has cheat meals...he ate this all for one meal!

Don't Have the Cake Around: Want to make sure you don't eat your "cake" is to not have your "cake" to begin with! I have a strong weakness for ice cream. When my family visits, it always seem to show up, and it always gets left in my freezer when they leave. I have absolutely no willpower to avoid it. So I make it a point to never buy it for myself. If you know you won't be able stop yourself, don't put yourself in the position to make bad choices. After the holidays are over, send the leftovers home with your family members. That will keep you from packing in the calories day after day following the festivities.

Use these tips throughout the holidays (and every day after) along with the tips I gave in This Post to help you lose/avoid the pounds over until the new year.

Stay Fit.

Best Rolls for Deep Squats

On the 1st Day of Christmas? It's One Day Long!

Hello Hello Fitters!
   We started our Weight Loss Through the Holidays this evening, and with that came some holiday strategy. I spoke individually with each of our participants to give them personalized tips and tricks on how to make it through the holidays without the horrendously recurrent weight gain we see during this season.

Actually, you each have ONE day....greedy month-mongers.

   With these nutrition strategies at the forefront of my mind, one concept that kept recirculating in my mind is this idea that people have developed over the years of holidays no longer being a DAY of thanks or celebration, but a conglomeration of parties and overindulgence, with the middle of November looked at as "Pre-Thanksgiving" and the end of November as "Pre-Christmas" and the middle of December as "Christmas Eve Week" and the end of December as "New Year Gear Up Week". We need to remind ourselves, Thanksgiving Day is just that, a day! If we choose to celebrate it, that is perfect, but celebrate it in one DAY.


   And as you celebrate this days, remember that the celebration does not need to center around food. Food is brought to these to give our mouths something to do between the awkward silence of avoiding our Uncle Donny (or filling Uncle Donny's mouth so he has less ability to say offensive things). Are we celebrating the food we feast on? Not usually, in fact we splurge on so much of it, we tend not to savor what we consume anyways. We are there to celebrate family, friends, the idea that we are not alone in the world, but that there are those around that we are lucky enough to call family, and that will share in our endeavors, our stories, our lives together.

   And I know your thought. "Well that's fine and dandy, but there's still food there. And it is still unhealthy, and it's still tempting as hell." So here is a list of things to do to be satisfied without being overly satiated.

1) Remember what you are celebrating, and focus on that. Family, friends, stories, well-wishing, laughter, love, memories, planning for the future.

2) Bring your own food, and make it healthy. Don't even tell them what's in it. Let them eat it. It will taste good, and they can have more. Or they will hate it, and you can have all of it. You don't have to justify your healthy eating habits, food preparation skills, etc.

3) Don't be projected upon by guilt-ridden people who made bad decisions. That's the harsh way of putting it. Basically, people know when they've made poor food choices. But instead of accepting it and moving on, they want you to partake so they don't feel so bad about their decisions. So they say things like "You aren't going to have any more?" or "What, are you on a diet?" It's your family, so respond appropriately. Anything from "I'm stuffed, thanks anyways" to "Shut your mouth when you're talking to me!" will work (I would perhaps avoid saying the latter to your grandmother :) ).

4) Eat before you go. What's stopping you from making good decisions at your own home before you leave for the party? You aren't saving that much money by going to get "free food" there, since you are probably making a dish anyways. You will know before you even get there if they will have healthy choices (you know your family better than anyone). So fill up on lean meats and salads before you go.

5) Don't hover near the food. Find a place across the room, house,  or state, and plant yourself there. When you hover, you graze, when you graze, you stuff, when you stuff, you regret.

6) Drink water. "Com'on Lucas, shut up about water!" Sorry can't do it. The body can sometimes mistake thirst for hunger. Drink a glass of water, and give yourself 5 minutes for your body to figure out if it is still actually hungry.

7) Get a taste of desert, but not a serving. Yes, there are going to be deserts. Yes, they are going to be delicious. Yes, you can have some! But you don't necessarily need a whole serving. Get a spoonful of three different deserts. This will give you a taste of a bunch of different ones, and will be a heck of a lot less calories than a whole slice of one type of pie. Savor the taste, enjoy the flavors, and then move on with your life!

8) Set the fork down. Between each bite, set your utensil down, and speak to someone, watch the kids play, watch a play of the game on T.V, etc. Then pick it back up after a moment. Your stomach takes about 10-15 minutes to recognize that it is full. Give it some time to figure it out, don't rush through the meal trying to beat the stuffed feeling.

So get out there, celebrate life and the DAY given to the celebration, and never regret the past. Move forward, and make good, healthy decisions. And remember that your next bite can lead you to regret, or it can help you

Stay Fit.

H2O the Places You'll Go

Welcome back Fitters!
 How goes it? Did you get something in for you today? Remember, you have to take time to make time. Don't let life get in the way of living.

Tonight we are going to talk about something that we can't live without. We can survive several days without food (although it is not recommended), but will perish within days with the most important nutrient our bodies crave...water. It is so readily accessible in our society, that we sometimes forget the immense importance it has in our lives. We take advantage because it is as simple as turning a knob, opening a cooler door and swiping a piece of plastic money, pressing a button and leaning over to sip it from a fountain. But think about it...how many things in this world would you DIE if you didn't have within days? I'm not talking about "Oh my gosh, I would like, totally die if I didn't have my cell on me all the time"....I'm talking dead...within days. Whoa.

I know that's a little dramatic, but even something as simple as the first stages of dehydration can have a massive effect on our bodies. Below is a list of what water does for our system, as well as a list of what happens to our bodies as dehydration sets in. I have also added a video of some tips I use to keep hydrated.

H2O Bodily Functions

 - Regulates Body Temperature: Our bodies don't handle extreme temperature changes well. In fact, changes as little as 6 degrees can cause cell and brain damage. Water helps us keep homeostasis, or a consistent temperature.

 - Lubricates Joints: Our joints take a lot of wear and tear, much like the engine of a car. Without proper lubrication, our joints heat up and wear down much faster than normal.

 - Remove Waste: Our bodies create a lot of waste and toxins. Water helps continuously flush these wastes out so we stay healthy.

 - Proper Muscle Function - Water helps keep muscles properly functioning, by being a transport for electrolytes necessary for muscular contraction. The result of low water content in the body? Cramps, and big ones.

Results of Dehydration

With mild dehyration, the following symptoms may occur: Headaches, dizziness, dry skin, mild cramps during intense exercises, thirst.

Studies have shown that a decrease in a loss of water equal to 2.5% body weight can decrease high intensity performance by up to 45% (your workouts are only about half as good as what you are capable of) (Sports Nutrition, 2nd ed. by Asker Jeukendrup, Michael Gleeson).

These are numbers that are very readily seen in the daily life of an American individual. It does not take a large decrease in water to begin seeing the symptoms of mild dehydration. In fact, if you are the slightest bit thirsty, you are already in the first stages of dehydration.

So how do you stay hydrated? The video below will give you some tips. Stay hydrated, stay moving, and

Stay Fit.

Information is Not Knowledge

Greetings Fitters,
 Albert Einstein is the brain behind the quote for the title of my blog tonight. While I don't claim to be as intelligent as the man, I believe I can wrap my head around what he is getting at here. Information is a gateway into great knowledge. Facts are the atoms by which molecules of knowledge are structured, meaning it takes a great deal of information to generate a sound knowledge of a topic. Take for instance animal husbandry (my wife is a zookeeper, go with me here). I know the mechanism by which two eagles mate. Does that mean I therefore have the knowledge on the breeding season in which they most likely WILL mate? Or what environmental factors make for the best nesting grounds? Or what the two eagles will even look for in each other? So many details go into the science of this, that knowing two, three, even a dozen facts will not give me the knowledge to be an expert on the subject.

The same can be said about all types of professions, but none rings more true for me (for obvious reasons) than the topic of nutrition and exercise. I've have seen on a regular basis (and even had to intervene with my own knowledge) the outcome of an individual basing the "knowledge" they impart to a friend or acquaintance on the "information" they have gleaned from working out themselves. Exercising alone does not make you an expert in the field of exercise, for every single person is an individual, and unless your knowledge is based in a scientific base of exercise, what works for one will not always work for another.

 I am not insinuating that no one help one another in the Club or gym. I enjoy it when information is exchanged between fellow exercisers. It is fun to share anecdotal information on what has or hasn't worked for you, in an endeavor to spark new gains in each other's fitness. What I am saying for certain is to always take information for what it is, one individual's OPINION of how to perform an exercise or follow a nutrition plan.

Your best course of action? Think of the person's credentials. Does the person have an education in the field they are talking about? And even if they do, what resources are they using to back up their opinions? I drive a car every day, are you going to bring your car to me when it starts making a questionable noise? (The smart answer here is no, I am worthless when it comes to the mechanics of a car). So why simply put your health and well-being in someone who works out every day?

There are people that make it their profession to better your health and wellness. Use them.

 I always implore my clients to ask me why (as you know, I'm a Why Guy). Why are we doing this exercise? Why do we do it this quickly/slowly? Why is this exercise coming right after that last one? Why do we position our feet this way for this movement, but not that one? If I can't answer your question about my methodology, then I'm not doing my job. And when a person gives you information about the topic, look it up anyways! In the end, the person giving you this information isn't going to feel the pain of a slipped disk or strained bicep when it turns out the form they showed you is wrong, so be responsible for your own fitness and well-being. Be kind, soak in the information, and then find out if it is going to work for you with proven, scientific sources. Don't let the follies of another influence you health and wellness. Make sure you take your health into your own hands, and make sure you

Stay Fit.

Don't Change Up the Whole Food Roster, Sub Out Your Weak Ingredients

Hello Fitters!
 Welcome back for some more nutrition and fitness fun! Today, I'm going to talk a little bit about making your food work better for you. When I first start talking with people about their health, one of their most daunting fears is that of changing their food habits. When asked, people will rate their willingness to change their food habits at a 40-50%, claiming that they "don't want to give up the foods they love," My response here is two fold:

1) You have to prioritize your health and fitness; I"M NOT SAYING YOU MUST MAKE IT FIRST. That would be my personal choice, but if that isn't your choice, that is great! But you have to decide where it stands, and realize that choices have consequences. If you want to continue to enjoy your sweets, no one is going to stop you. But if your goal is to lose 50 pounds, you have two options, lower the amount of sweets you eat, or change your fitness goal. You have to choose what is more important to you. One thought process that you need to change quickly is the "I CAN'T eat that, I'm on a diet." Of course you can eat it! More than likely, you have before. Instead, change your mentality to "I could eat that, but I choose not to." And that is the truth, you chose not to eat it, because you have chosen to prioritize your fitness goals first.

2) Change the way you are eating; There are several ways to do this. You can eat the same amount, but spread more throughout the day. You can control your portions to eat a smaller amount. But (in my opinion) the best option by far is to change the quality of food you are eating. Depending on the individual, I will choose one (or more) of these options to get them on the path to healthier food options.

One of my most preferred methods is to change out ingredients of food types for more healthier options. It is very simple, extremely affordable, and can be a much easier mental transition for those who struggle with food. Below are some options for switching out some "weak players" on your food roster.

Lettuce as a wrap is one great way to reduce unhealthy carbs.

Spices - Use any type of dry spice in place of a liquid condiment (such as barbeque sauce, soy sauce, ranch, dressings, etc.). Liquid condiments are loaded with fats, salts, and other calories (and it doesn't take much dressing to add up a whole lot of calories).  Dry spices are usually crushed up vegetables, so of course those are on my good list! (See The Magical Formula for Weight Loss)

Lemon/Lime Juice - A great substitute for liquid condiments or dressings, this and some black pepper can definitely spice up your salads or chicken.

Avocado - Because of the higher level of healthy fats it contains, avocado has a smooth texture, much like other ingredientss with fat. This makes it great for substituting mayo, cheeses, etc. (As long as you don't mind the dish turning green!) - I.e. egg salad, made with advocado instead of mayo.

Fiber - Although not similar in taste, anything high in fiber (like vegetables and fruits) will keep you filling more full, longer.

Perimeter Shopping - Start by shopping on the outside of the store, and fill your carts with the fresh versions of all of your foods. If it can sit in the fridge or on a shelf for weeks, it probably won't be good for your insides.

Whole Wheat - whole wheat pizza crusts, wraps, breads, etc. are a much better alternative to any grain options (if getting rid of them is just too hard), and whole wheat is an option in almost every restaurant or store.The lower glycemic index wrecks much less havoc on your insulin levels.

Quinoa - I don't label many foods "Superfoods" (because the idea is silly, just eat good, wholesome food, and it is going to be "super"), but if I had to give one food the name, it would be Quinoa (pronouced keen-wa). A high level of carbs, fats, and proteins earns it the name. Use it to replace rices and other grains.

There are just some quick and simple tips to substitute foods in your diet. Getting online and finding other great options is easy (you're already on here to read this, might as well use your time wisely!). Just make sure you are truly looking into the ingredients to determine if a food is a better substitute. A lot of times, food organizations will fool you with "low fat" options, only to load up the sugar and salts, making it just as unhealthy for you. Want to know if it is a better option? Ask me! I am only a click away. And remember, that is why I am here. To help you

Stay Fit.

Train for Life

Greetings Fitters!
 The topic of discussion tonight is one of my strongest beliefs. If you have read my post on Opinions and Beliefs, you'll know that I believe that in life, you should have many strong opinions on different aspects, but you should have two to three definite beliefs. One of my beliefs for the very brief time I'm on this earth is this:

Train for Life.

There are two deductions for this motto of mine, and they are both (to me) insurmountable in their importance, and intrinsically necessary for an individuals quality of life. Here they are.

1) Train in exercise for the tasks you need to accomplish in the rest of your life: Very seldom will you find yourself needing to lift something to your shoulder by sitting down on a perfect seat, squaring up your shoulders, and curling the object. So why would you wish to spend so much time training this movement while exercising (the bicep curl)?

I believe the reason is hidden in the evolution of fitness in a health club or gym setting. Prior to the era of desk jobs and technological booms, the individuals inhabiting the fitness facilities were bodybuilder-minded individuals. Enter the 9-5pm cubicle worker. They know they need to work out, but what to focus on? "Well, I want to....be healthy? That person looks healthy. So I need to look  healthy to be healthy." What's the quickest way to "look healthy"? Body-building exercises. But this doesn't really make us healthy, it just makes us look more muscular. Is it your aspiration to have chiseled pecs? Or do you want to carry your baby through the mall without your lower back hurting and your shoulder feeling like a dead weight for two weeks?

So don't waste 4-6 hours in your week learning how to lift a bar over your head with half range of motion and flared our elbows (military press) while you're sitting on your kiester, unless you really just care about having "super big" shoulders. Spend time instead learning how to brace your spine while holding a load over your head, with stable, externally rotated shoulders so that when you have to take that bag of cat food off the top shelf, you don't tweak your lower back and injure your shoulder.

2) Move in a way that will allow you to continue exercising and being fit for your entire life span: Don't settle for good enough, and don't suffer through a pain because "I've always had a little twinge in my shoulder". A twinge is a twinge, and what it is is your body telling you something is wrong. A twinge turns into an ache, which turns into an injury, which turns into irreversible tissue and joint damage. And you only have 1-2 of everything (knees, shoulders, hips, spine). Once you wear it down, it's GONE. It isn't going to go away over night, and it isn't going to be a quick fix to move perfectly. But there are countless ways to keep your workouts intense without exacerbating an injury. Rest the injury, work on mobility so it works properly, and keep on being fit.

Tell 64 year old Greg here that a lack of mobility and strength is "just a part of being old." You'll have to wait until he puts down his 190 lb. Clean and Jerk (that means he took it from the ground to over his head).

 So check the ego at the front door, and move in a way that is going to allow you to do so for a looooong time. There's no point in wearing yourself down in your early years, just to ruin your quality of life for your last 20-30 years. There are 85 year old people jumping, heavy back squatting, running marathons, etc. They are no different from you except they didn't accept pain and poor movement. Make a good decision to improve your quality of life now to continue it into your hundreds. If it hurts, fix it. (By the way, pain medicine/advil/aleve is not fixing it, it just masks the symptom of pain so you continue your poor movement...fix the movement)

So there it is folks. Train for Life. Do what you do, do it well, and continue to do it until the day you leave us. What is this going to guarantee you do your entire life? You guessed it.

Stay Fit.



P.S. Remember, you aren't alone. If you don't know how to train specifically for the things going on in your life, message me, Facebook me, email me at LucasWoody@gmail.com. My goal in life is to help people reach their fullest potential, whatever that may be. I'm here for you!

Get Ready for your Warrior Dash! (Or Whatever Challenge you Face)

Hey all you Fitters!
 As some of you may know, I am all signed up for the Warrior Dash in September in Crawfordsville, IN. For those that aren't familiar with WD, it is a 5K obstacle coarse filled with fun and challenging obstacles to test your meddle, as well as get crazy messy and have a great time (check out the obstacles and more at WarriorDash.com).

Because I love a challenge, especially one that lets me express my fitness, I want to be prepared for this thing. So I have created a workout that simulates the experience of the WD's fitness demands, including cardiovascular endurance, speed, strength, power, and more. I did this for a few reasons:

 1) Progress mapping - I want to know exactly what I am getting into, and how well I am conditioning to get that way. Therefore this workout is designed to prove if I am ready, and how ready I am. It is important to Test/Retest yourself on a regular basis, to make sure you are better today than you were yesterday.

2) S.M.A.R.T. goal - Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. This is what is necessary to set a goal. The workout is very specific, and equally measurable. It is most certainly attainable (I did the workout already), and the level of intensity in which I want to do it by race day is also attainable (the time I want to beat it by), my goal time is realistic, and the amount of times I am going to Retest are timely (every two months, to give myself time to change, but also have enough retests to know what I need more improvement on).

3) Train for Life - A philosophy I live by (more later), train in the things that you are going to see in life. I won't see these exact moves at the WD, but the stresses these moves elicit, and my body needing to handle these stresses, I will most certainly see. What stresses does your body see? Lot's of stairs? Lifting heavy boxes? Standing on your feet all day? Train for Life.

So the following is my workout I will be using to prepare for the Warrior Dash. It will be my test, and also my conditioning routine. I will do it every two months from now until September, tracking everything from food consumed that day, to how long each movement takes. And I will use this empirical data to adapt my training to see improved results. Scientifically based fitness, gotta love it!

To explain this workout - The warrior dash is a 5K (3.1 mile) run, with 13 rigorous obstacles to face. Dividing 3.1 miles by 13 gives us 0.238, or rounded to 0.25 miles between each obstacle. So, I created an exercise routine to mimic this specific situation, using 13 movements that required one of the aforementioned fitness demands (strength, cardiovascular endurance, etc.).

Warrior Dash Special

Run 1/4 mile before first movement, in between each movement, and after the final movement, for a total of 3.5 miles. The movements are:

30 air squats
30 pullups
30 straight-arm sit-ups, 20# each hand
5 rope climbs, 10 ft. rope
30 sumo deadlift high pulls, 65#
10 Turkish get-ups (5 each hand, 25#)
30 box jumps, 24 inch box
30 burpees
30 overhead walking lunge steps, 35#
100 meter bear crawl
30 deadlifts, 135#
30 shoulder to overhead, 65#
30 dumbbell box step overs, 30# each hand

There you have it. The Warrior Dash special. If you have any questions about the programming, execution, or movements, please feel free to ask. And also feel free to use it for your own training, be it the Warrior Dash or some other fitness endeavor.

For any that may ask, I finished this workout in 1 hour, 10 minutes. I did it after not eating for 5 hours (extreme stupidity), and with a 16# vest on (10% body weight) (verdict is still out on level of stupidity, but it was fun!). I gave this information because I know some will ask, not to be used as a comparison. Be your own person, work at your own level, and above all else.

Stay Fit

The original workout. It has been slightly modified.

Think of the Children! (And their Movement)

Greetings Fitters!

 I hope you have found some time this weekend to put yourself first, and work on your fitness. You have to take care of yourselves before you can take care of anyone else!

Speaking of taking care of anyone else.....I know that for many of us, that "someone else" is our kids. Over the past few months, I have been seeing some interesting articles related to children and their health and wellness. Two in particular are below:

 Mother Penalized for Not Giving Child Balanced Lunch, School Gives Ritz Crackers

 High School PE Program Recognized

The second one is an exciting possibility in my eyes. Finally, teaching kids how to move well for the rest of their lives! It is upsetting to see that children from elementary school up in to high school are given lessons in their Physical Education classes (if they still are allowed physical education) about things they will never use the rest of their lives. How many kids go on to play volleyball, dodgeball, football, basketball, etc.? Maybe 1%. How many go on to pick things off the ground, carry heavy objects, sit in a chair, or sprint to catch a bus? I'm going to go ahead and say all of them.

I'm not saying avoid all sports. Sports are a fun way to get children excited about moving. Just don't make sports the entire focus of fitness. Not many of us will go on to win the BWF Badminton Championship.

I've had countless conversations with people who have an investment, in some fashion, with high school children, and in all cases, nothing positive was said in regards to what is being taught to them in the ways of their physical movement. I've spoken with Athletic Directors that when I ask what their strength and conditioning programs look like, they claim "There is none." But in practice these children are asked to "hit squats for the next 30 minutes." Who's coaching them to properly squat? That is an extremely technical movement to complete while loaded. Who is qualified to critique the technique of the kids doing it, or even further, write conditioning programs for the entire team for the entire season? If they do have someone qualified, that is terrific. But I can say that the norm is quite the opposite.

I've spoken to Athletic Trainers who talk about the children that are visiting their offices on a regular basis each season from injuries that are clearly the cause of overuse or dysfunctional movement. No child should already be having knee pains and joint issues when they are 16, 17, or 18. So why are we seeing this? Because no one has taught them how to activate their glutes, turn their knees out, and have a solid knee when they are running, or squatting down to go for that low volleyball, or how to brace their shoulder when they wind up for a pitch.

I've talked with parents who are concerned that their children aren't being shown the importance of physical activity, because the school systems are taking away the only allotted hour of their child's day that they used to spend being active, P.E. class. Consider it.....a kid in high school (that isn't in sports) wakes up, goes to school, sits in a chair for roughly 5-6 hours a day (minimum), gets out of school, comes home or goes to a friend's house, sits around for a few more hours, then goes to bed. When do they get in their physical activity, exercise, movement? Who is teaching them how to move well?

So what do we need to do? We need to invest more into teaching our children the importance of simple movements. We need develop programs that are going to help them find significance in making good choices about their food and health. So what is the answer? CrossFit in school? Maybe, maybe not. But who cares about the right answer? Figure out what is important to teach kids for their future (not the 1% of them who play sports to make a living) so that they can move well for the next 90 years, and teach that. Teach it well, and teach it in a way that will stick. Help the people of the future learn how to

Stay Fit.

And NO, the answer is not "tricking them" into moving with video games.

The Perfect Warm-Up

Greetings Fitters.
 Welcome back. I hope you've fared well this Wednesday. For this post, I wanted to get into the "Perfect Warm-Up".

 I'm going to go ahead and burst the proverbial bubble early. There is no such thing as a perfect warm-up. But there are aspects that should be present in every warm up to ensure that your body is ready for the rigors you are about to put it through.

1) Cardiovascular - Do this to stretch the lungs, warm up the muscles, increase core temperatures slightly, and pump the blood more quickly. It does not need to last more than 5 minutes, and shouldn't be vigorous. Rowing, biking, jogging, or uphill walking are great examples.

2) Dynamic Movements - Use movements that move your joints through an increased range of motion that they usually do not see throughout the day. This gets your muscles ready to stretch farther, and harder, than the usual day-to-day movements. This may include arm circles, long lunges, high kicks or high knees, wide side-lunges, etc.

3) Shoulders and Hips - These are the "junction boxes" between the torso/core and arms and legs. Because of the vast amounts of muscles that are connected here, the range of motion that these joints have, and the fact that an extremely large percentage of exercises utilize these joints, it is important to make sure they are ready to move.

4) Movement specific - If you are going to do deadlifts, make sure you stretch the hamstrings and lower back. Lunges? Do deep, long lunges to warm up. Bench press? Do some pushups, and warm up the shoulders. Burpees?......well, better get it all warmed up. And good luck.

5) Sweat - "Are you sweating?" "No." "You're not warmed up." "But I feel loose and ready to go!" "Are you sweating?" "Well...no." "You're not warmed up." You don't have to be drenched, but you have to be warm.

Warm ups should be a minimum of 7-10 minutes. There's no sense not being ready to move. Keep yourself safe, and always

Stay Fit.

Opinions and Beliefs

Good evening to all of you Fitters out there!

Tonight, I want to talk very briefly on the idea of "debating".

I have had some controversial topics come up in my profession, and it inevitably leads to an "argument". The issue I have with a situation like that is this: I do not condone arguments, I believe in discussions. Some people may see these two concepts as interchangeable, but I would say those individuals are more likely the ones that want to argue. In my opinion (key word here, OPINION), arguments arise when two people have conflicting BELIEFS about a topic, and want to convince the other that their belief is more knowledgeable, inspiring, or just downright correct. Where does this become a problem? Beliefs are deep. Beliefs are what your religion is based on. Your intrinsic ethical code is foundationally grounded in beliefs. Because of this, it is extremely difficult, indeed borderline impossible, to change someone's beliefs in a matter of a 15 minute conversation with them. What is more likely to happen? You piss them off, and they discontinue further communication with you.

Instead, I would implore each individual to have a strong set of opinions. Opinions are malleable. They are firm in that you back them with the knowledge that you currently have, but are pliable with new information that may come along. We all can agree that fitness and wellness have come a long way in 20 years. Why would you dig your heels in so deeply on a subject (like fitness in my case) that you know can change in a matter of years? This can be said of all professions, times change, and ideas change with it.

My suggestion? Have 2-3 strong, invincible beliefs. Truths of life that you know are inalienable and timeless. The rest of your thoughts, be strongly opinionated in. And know that there may come a time when you have a DISCUSSION with someone that brings up strong evidence to the contrary of your opinion. You will find that it is much easier you to adapt and absorb this information, when you are working with an opinion.


And remember, when you are discussing a topic with someone, and you have to raise your voice, it is more than likely because you are failing to bring clarity or content to the conversation. Instead, bring an open mind, and a valid opinion.

My beliefs?

1) We are responsible for our own health and well-being, and we must give a conscious effort to our movements and our choices to keep our health in good standing.

2) Acting positively and searching for the most positive outlook for every situation will result in a more positive outlook on life.

3) Life is short. Do what makes you happy, and never regret a moment.

4) Stay Fit.

Use Your Bones for Support

Hey Fitters!

Good day today. Little early morning workout, a lot of business building at the Club, a great group session with some awesome athletes, and finished with a team meeting with the greatest personal training team in Lafayette! What did you do for your personal physical, occupational, or social development today?

Today, we are talking about your support system, your bones. Many people move their exercises with a muscle mentality. They believe that by being "strong" with their muscles, that they can power through any movement well. However, consider this. Our muscles are only as strong and supportive as the structures for which they are attached, or can create torque upon. Think about squatting on a solid rubber floor. It is easy to create torque in the feet, externally rotate the femur, and create massive force. Now consider doing it on ice. Much less force can be created. Now on top of water (yes, I know, you can't stand on water, point made!). The final point is that our muscles are really great levers, but they must have something on which they can act: your bones.

Your skeletal system is the support system of your body. The sole purpose of your muscles is to generate force on your bones to change the angles of your joints. This is why it is called the musculoskeletal system. These two systems work together to move your body. Without your skeletal system, you would be very mushy.

So what does this mean for exercise? You can only be proficient in a movement with muscular strength alone for so long before your posture and form cause faults and failures. Imagine a back squat (check out The Back Squat - Learn to Lift Well, I added a new video!) where you become very soft in your core, allowing your spine to be loose and flex or extend with no resistance. Very quickly you will fail to be able to lift the load. Now imagine that you are in a "somewhat proper" position, but still not quite perfect, but are trying to lift a maximal load. Again, being in a slightly compromised position can lead to failure. This is why it is imperative to learn how to use proper mechanics and posture throughout each of your movements to ensure not only that you can support maximum loads, but so that your body wears more slowly, due to it being in the ideal position to go through every day motions hundreds of thousands of times in the right way.

So don't just learn how to move hard, or move strong, learn to how to move WELL and in the right position. Check out the short video below to help demonstrate my point. And always,

Stay Fit.

The Back Squat - Learn to Lift Well

Greetings Fitters,
 Crazy Holidays! Lots of family, lots of food, lots of fun. And now, back to it. I hope you were able to work on your fitness throughout the craziness, I know I did!

Today I have to talk about some key points on the back squat. A lot of people avoid the back squat for a lot of reasons:

1) They saw the big guy get red faced, screaming as he tries to stand up with 500 lbs, and figured it is too much work or too intimidating.

2) It takes a lot of technique, and isn't worth the time.

3) They haven't had any instruction to do it well.

4) They have been injured from the movement before.

These are legitimate excuses to have caution when dealing with the back squat, but no reason at all to avoid it completely! The back squat can be very technical, but recall that so is running, but we spend a lot less of a proportion of technique training to actual running. Injury can occur from back squatting easily, but so can getting out of bed incorrectly, or bending over to pick up a grandchild. Moving well and learning proper technique can save you in any movement, including this one. And I'll admit the guy screaming over a quarter ton on his back is slightly intimidating, but there's no reason whatsoever for you to try that, so why worry?

Here is a short list of reasons why back squatting will assist you in the every day routine:

1) Learn how to move up and down with a load on your back (i.e. moving safely while carrying a child)

2) Create strength synergistically in your leg muscles, through full range of motion, that can transfer to almost all other movements (running, jumping, lunging, etc.)

3) Back squats allows the biggest capacity to move the most weight while dealing with any restrictions in mobility (i.e. you can move a large load in a back squat that may be impossible in an overhead squat. NOTE: this does not mean do not work to create mobility for the front squat or overhead squat. I simply mean you can continue to gain strength through the back squat WHILE working on mobility for these other squats)

So now that we have a basic idea for the reasoning behind back squatting, let's learn a little bit about how to back squat well. Here are some major points of performance.

These first three are more for back squats specifically, in that they deal with having a barbell on your back.

1) Keep the upper back tight - Start by externally rotating the shoulders by "breaking"  the bar apart with your hands. Also pinch the shoulder blades together, and keep this tightness in the shoulders as you move through the squat.

2) Find a good position on the shoulders - This is a mixture of comfort and shoulder mobility. Find a place where you can keep the bar on you shoulders, can keep your shoulders externally rotated, and pinched back. (for me, this is about a thumb's length wider than my shoulders.

3) Unrack and step back with as good of technique as the actual squat - This is often neglected, but many injuries in weight lifting occur in transitional periods (i.e. racking the barbell, lifting a dumbbell off the rack, trying to sit up with weight in the hands). Get your heels directly under the barbell, and with an upright torso, stand the bar up. Then step back very diliberately with each foot. Use the same sequence each time (starting with left or right, then following with the opposite). you may try the step out process with an empty bar, just to ingrain the neuromuscular pattern in your head so it becomes second nature. Try not to spend too much time fidgeting, as this can be tiring under heavy loads.

These next steps are the same for every type of squat, including air squats, front squats, and overhead squats.

4) Keep the midline braced - See my post "Core, Do Core, Use the Core.....What is Core Again?"
 With the squat, this means keeping a slight lumbar arch (lower back arch), as the first fault seen in the spine is a rounding of the whole back.

5) Initiate the squat with hips/hamstrings - This means don't start squatting by letting your knees fall forward, but by sending your hips (or hamstrings) back. Think sitting back in a chair. It may help to think about keeping your weight in your heels, although it is important to keep the whole foot down.

6) Squat below parallel - This means your hip crease is below your knees (femur is below parallel to ground). Don't go crazy, but strive for depth. Why? GREAT question! Because life doesn't stop at a parallel squat, why should we? Train for life.

7) PUSH YOUR KNEES OUT! - See pictures below. Your knees need to at the least be tracking in line with your toes (which should be pointing straight). If they are a little wider, no biggie. It is much better for them to be a little wide then valgus, or caving in (a slew of knee problems arise from this).  Make sure you are actively pushing out both coming down and going up.

How can you focus on this? A couple of cues seem to help a lot of people:

• Screw your feet in the ground - this creates external rotation in the upper leg, allowing the knees to move outward
• Split the ground - this assists with the torque created in the legs, and furthers the "pushing knees out" process
• Knees out! - have someone press against the outside of your knee (unloaded) and actively push against their hand. You can also wrap a band around your knees (again, with an unloaded squat) and push against the tension.

One of my heroes, Kelly Starrett, demonstrating valgus "knees in" squat, vs. knees out.

So keep these tips in mind. Get out there and start practicing these points of performance. NOTE: If you are having trouble performing the tips I gave for all types of squats (#4-7), work on these FIRST, and then add the weight later. Then, when you have found some problems/restrictions/issues with your squat, I want to hear about them! Tell me what is going on in the comments section, and I will be more than happy to help you start perfecting your squat. I can PROMISE you there are thousands of people with the same issues, you just may be the first with the courage to admit it, and do something about it! Be willing to work on yourself. It can only help you do one thing.

Stay Fit.

Anybody Can Start Strong....

But we're going to Finish Strong.

 If you are one of my clients, or have worked out in my proximity, you have most likely heard me say this. This concept is amazing in its motivational context, but it is profound in its application to life.

Finishing Strong is what moves mountains. It is what got Transcontinental Railroad completed. I can only imagine that the first spike pounded in the ground was cake (and probably done by an overweight guy in a pea coat and top hat). But you can bet your ass it took tenacity, determination, and strong will to get the other 7,000,000+ into the ground.

Are we building a railroad single-handedly? Probably not. But the concept it prescribes can be lent to all aspects of life.

Let's start with exercise. There are hundreds of thousands of people that can rep out 10 beautiful air squats faster than the fittest people in the world. So why aren't they the fittest in the world? There are those people that can start their 225 pound deadlifts with superb technique, within a workout of, let's say, 21, 15, and 9 reps of deadlifts and handstand pushups. Let's say that Bill does the first 21 deadlifts in 40 seconds, and John does them in 60 seconds. Bill is more fit (at that exact moment) than John, because he did more work in less time. BUT, now Bill stares at the wall gassed out from the deadlifts, and John starts his handstand pushups. They continue on through the workout, Bill's form goes to crap, and John keeps solid. John finishes in 4:34, and Bill finishes is 6:30.

It is great that Bill pumped through the beginning of that workout, but he did not (COULD not) keep up his intensity, and therefore he suffered. More importantly still, and something people will sometimes neglect to focus on, is that Bill failed to Finish Strong in that his form deteriorated tremendously. If you walk into the room in the middle of Bill and John's workout, have no idea what they have done previously, and see them deadlifting 225, Bill with horribly rounded back and shoulders, and John with a tight midline and good form, who is "stronger" right now? Same weight, same lift, same work previously? I would argue (as would most fitness experts) that John is stronger. Because he is doing the movement with great form, and thus will be able to sustain that movement long without injury. So Finishing Strong isn't about slamming your body into a wall of poor movement to get more reps in, it's finishing with great form, AND high intensity. If that means you are lifting less weight, but you are giving it everything you've got with great form, you've finished stronger than Round-Back Billy.



Apply this concept to the rest of your life, and you'll find the outcome of your decisions will be better for it. If you start something, start it HARD. Give it everything you got. But life is short, so make sure it is worth your time to Finish Strong. Go into with great form, and have the same passion in the very last day as you had the first day you started the endeavor.

Make the very last rep as perfect as the first one.

These stones mark the first flights of the Wright Bros. I have no interest in aeronautics, but I respect these gentlemen. Their first flight was a measly (for today's standards) 120 feet, but they had passion for what they did and Finished Strong. And now you can visit California in a few hours via airplane. It was inspirational to stand here and see these landmarks.

I've started my journey into fitness with extremely passion, determination, and tenacity. I've absorbed so much from everything the world has to offer in the ways of nutrition, movement, exercise prescription, etc. etc. But I haven't even scratched the surface. You can believe that I will Finish Strong. Whatever Finish Strong means for my life of Fitness, I'm going to learn along the way. But my passion will be the same, if not more, than the very first day I decided that this is my calling.

Make sure what it is you are doing does the same for you.

Finish Strong, and

Stay Fit.

Good Grip, Bad Grip, and the Pain It Can Cause

Greetings fellow Fitters!

 Today, we are going to talk a bit about grip. I hear a lot about injuries/chronic pain/tweeks (let you in on a secret, all the same thing) in the elbows and the shoulders. Now I will say first and foremost, that a stable shoulder is the pivotal part of creating a stable upper body for all movements. And I will focus on shoulders in a post for another today. But today, it is about grip.

Your feet are where rubber meets the road. It is imperative to have good ankle mobility and stability to perform lower body movements. Well, the hands are the feet of the upper body (stay with me). The wrists are the ankles, the elbow is the knee, and the shoulder is the hip. See it? Without proper grip on the object in question (barbell, pull up bar, dumbbell, even the ground for pushups), suffering ensues upriver into these other joints. It would appear that your grip must change for all of these different objects. In some cases, you are correct (you can't get a full-blown death grip on the ground, but you can create torque through your hands for external shoulder rotation, for another day), but for the most part, there is a proper way to grip almost any object you can get your hand around. And it all pivots around pinky position.

Below I have some pictures of my hand around a regular sized barbell. Note the pinky knuckle positions:

Good: Top most knuckle over bar. Stable wrist.

Bad: Second knuckle from hand over bar. Wrist relaxed.

Bad: Last pinky knuckle over bar. Wrist lax.

Usually Bad: Thumb over bar, not wrapped. Pinky knuckle behind bar.

Hand Pinky Knuckle Over Bar:  with the pinky knuckle of the hand over the bar, is the most stable, and here is why. For pulling positions (pullups, deadlifts, dumbbell rows), this helps in two ways. It places the shoulder in a better position to create torque and external rotation (the most stable position for the shoulder, more later). Secondly, it puts more tension in the "front" of the arm (palm side), which is the stronger and larger portion of the forearm. Notice the slight bend in the wrist, this indicates that the larger flexor musculature of the forearm is activated. Want some proof it is a stronger position, watch what professional arm-wrestlers do with their wrists before the fight begins.

Distal Knuckles Over Bar: With the second position, and the third, where the hand begins to slip to the outer knuckles, you suffer two tendencies. First, the shoulder is now much more free to turn inwards (internal rotation), and any movement in that shoulder for movements like deadlifts and pullups that is not part of the intended movement can quickly lead to excessive wear and tear, tears and stresses, and boy oh boy some pain. Secondly, now the weaker flexors (and extensors) of the forearm are activated, making it much harder to grip, and therefore your hand begins to slip, leading to less forearm activation, etc. etc. until the bar is no longer in your hands, but your finger tips.

Monkey Grip: The last picture shows the popular "thumb over" grip (or what I call the monkey grip). Many people take this grip more for comfort than anything, and if you have the grip strength and ability to maintain hand position, go for it. But with the thumb-over grip, you can see it is much more difficult to keep the pinky knuckle over the bar, thus keeping external rotation.

Along with instability in your shoulder with these weaker grips, you are also creating more rotational stress on that forearm, and into the elbow. I hear a lot of concerns from people with the thumb-over grip for dumbbell and barbell rows, and pullups, that they are feeling a sharp pain in the medial portion of their elbow. I would most likely attribute this to the fact that with the monkey grip, you are concentrating all of your stress (weight of barbell, dumbbell,  body weight hanging) onto a very select few muscles in the forearm (mainly the palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis, for you fellow anatomy geeks out there). These muscles attach to the same location (the medial epicondyle of the humerus, or the inside of your elbow). Picture this...you are hanging from a group of cables. If you hold on to each cable equally, you are fine, but as soon as you let go of a group, it puts a lot of stress on the few cables you are holding on to. When you don't have a proper grip, you are doing the same thing, using only a few cables/muscles, and putting excessive stress on one anchor point. On a similar note, if you have overactive (tight) forearm muscles, the same thing can happen, since those muscles are pulling more excessively than the other muscles.  Roll it out!


A note, this grip talk is good for pulling, but a different grip (for a different post) is preferred for pressing movements (overhead presses, bench presses, dips, etc.)

So the next time you grip a pullup bar (or dumbbell or barbell, just think big pinky knuckle on the opposite side of wrist), make a better decision with your grip. It make some getting used to, but it is worth going down a bit in weight (let's be honest, there is no award for heaviest dumbbell row) to keep from having nagging, chronic pain in the shoulders and the elbows... right?

Stay Fit.

It came in! Now I am NASM CPT, FNS certified, TRX and CrossFit Level 1 certificated! It'll never get boring!

Focus on This to Live 100 Great Years

Welcome back!
 What a great weekend my fellow Fitters! Saturday, it started with a great breakfast, workout in the morning, then straight to campus to enjoy the Purdue game with the suite tickets my wife and I received from some family friends (thanks Pam and Courtney!), then left there and went to a movie, then finished with a visit with friends at 9-Irish (a local fan favorite). Today was a deep-clean of the household to prepare for the holiday week. What did you do for your mental fitness this weekend? How about physical?

Last week, we talked a little bit about the 10 domains of Fitness (see post titled "Running Does Not Equal Fitness"). With all of these aspects, it can be a little daunting at first to really incorporate all of these domains into your routine. What's more, it is very common for an individual to find those aspects of fitness that appeal to us more than others. Think about it, what is your favorite exercise? Running? Olympic weightlifting? Hypertrophy training (bodybuilding)? Agility drills? I doubt that you enjoy every exercise that exists. Ever see an individual exercising that you knew could probably do with a little more cardio, or perhaps incorporate some lower body exercises (perhaps lightheartedly called "chicken legs" by their colleagues)? As I have mentioned in previous posts, it is important for overall health and fitness to be the best you can be in all domains of fitness.

Inevitably, I get asked "What do you think is the most important focus of fitness?" What a tremendous and formidable question. If you had to spend the efforts of the rest of your life on one aspect of fitness, what would I suggest?

Firstly, we are asking this question accepting the fact that nutrition is above all else when it comes to the importance of your health. Without having sound nutrition, we can forget the question completely, for fitness is foundationally rooted in appropriate nutrition. Secondly, I am not recommending that any other aspect of fitness be ignored in the pursuit of any other.

With that being said, I do believe that one aspect of fitness, if pursued with proper nutrition, could help anyone live a fulfilling life well into their 70s, 80s, and 90s. And the answer might surprise you. Flexiblity.

Flexibility, and more importantly Mobility, is vital to being able to live, in what my opinion is, a satisfying life. With great nutrition, and normal physical activity, a person's body will remain healthy. Without proper mobility, however, one will quickly suffer. Not being able to walk, turn, jump, step up, crawl, etc. will lead to a very sheltered, and frankly, boring life.

We can all agree, needing assist through daily tasks is undesirable.

 As we get older, many of our abilities begin to decay, but a lack of mobility in particular is a very debilitating loss. Consider the aging adult. As an older man or woman begins to move less, their body becomes much more inflexible, including loss of shoulder mobility, as well as hip mobility. They begin to lose the ability to reach over their head, or sit into a deep chair. Soon, they are unable to reach (or hold) anything near head height, and it is impossible to get in and out of a chair without assistance.




To prevent this, we need to pursue two things: We need to move, and move well, through full ranges of motion of all bodily joints. That includes overhead pressing, pushing, pulling, deep squats, and more. We also need to improve our already limited range of motion with flexibility/mobility training. Many of us are already combating 20-30+ years of grody movement (knee or back pain? Blame poor movement), and we need to restore proper, full range movement.

Do what you love for as long as you can!

Want to live 100+ years going hiking in the Adirondacks, zip-lining in the Bahamas, site-seeing in France? Move your body, move it right, and work on the flexibility and the mobility to do it that way the rest of your life (and working on the other 9 domains of Fitness won't hurt either).





Stay Fit.

The Power of Positivity

Hello to you again!

 This evening, I want to reach out to you, my readers, in a way that may not be specific to fitness, but will (hopefully) assist you in fitness, business, social experiences, and personal journeys. I want to talk to you tonight about being positive.

I have been asked before, quite literally, "How are you positive all of the time?" I will say that I am definitely not positive every moment of my life. But I will say (and I pride myself somewhat in this) that I keep a positive mindset a majority of the time, and that is, in itself, a feat worth fighting for. Like moving well, being positive takes a conscious effort. It does not come naturally, easily, or without endeavor.

Many people think of positivity as a hereditary attribute, that a person is born positive, is always positive, and will therefore always be positive. But even as you read this, you know that this thought is ludicrous. But it still comes naturally to think this way. Do you know someone who is always slightly upbeat? Who always seems to say something to make you feel better, or look at the positive side of things? To see the silver lining, the half-full glass?

  There are three conscious efforts that I have placed upon myself that make my life majorly positive, and I want to share them with you. I make it an effort every day to:

1) Remove the negative words from my vocabulary. Words like: can't, don't, won't, no, never, wouldn't, not, unfortunately, but, might, impossible, etc. Many of these words (like but or might) aren't precisely negative, but they are "flimsy" and therefore rob you of your certainty that the possible it real. Avoid these words! Change "Unfortunately, I can't do a box jump" to "I currently struggle with box jumps." By saying you can't do a box jump, you've given up on the idea of doing it. "Currently struggling" indicates that by continuous practice, you intend to one day conquer the box jump! It may seem silly at first, but every single thought has a positive spin. Fight to find it, andexpress it with everything that you have!

Which one of these runners KNEW he was going to win, and always told himself that?

2) Recover quickly from negative situations. When someone tells you something is going to fail, or a situation turns negative, recover quickly from it. Take a moment to collect your thoughts, or at least your attitude, and turn it to one of a constructive, postive force. Determine a way to solve the problem at hand, and complete the task. The most successful people in life are those who can rebound from an "unfortunate circumstance" and turn it into a positive outcome.

3) Exude an air of collected confidence. I tell all of my clients, when doing an exercise of extreme intensity, it is better mentality to portray outward calm in your face, posture, and breathing. By forcing yourself to appear calm, you are mentally working towards being in a calm state. The same can be said of negative and hectic environments. If you give the impression that you are calm, cool, and composed, people will follow suite, and you will find yourself more often in control of a stressful situation.

This man looks confident. If Ryan said something to you right now, you'd believe him. Even if he was about to crap himself.

 

I am in firm belief that positivity will be one of the major influences that changes the world for the better. If you truly believe this, and can be an ambassador for positiveness, you may be a catalyst for change as well. The worst possible outcome? You are happy for the rest of your life.....

 Stay Fit.

The Great Carb Debate (That Didn't Happen)

Welcome back!

 Snuggle on in for some discussion on carbohydrates (or carbs). Today myself and one of my clients (let's call her Jill for her protection of identity) got into what she called a "debate" on carbs, but really I found it to be more of a discussion (PLEASE read the "disclaimer" at the bottom in regards to my thoughts on "debates".) The idea was that we have different opinions on the amount of carbs we recommend to our clients. As a dietitian, she advocates 50% carbohydrates for their diet. From what she told me, she then gives them options of different carbs from categories such as grains, fruits, etc. This includes pastas, breads, and other forms of grains. Her thought was that we recommend different things, because my belief is that we as humans need to eat (see if you can remember it before you read it!):

Lean meats and veggies, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, no sugar.*

*Note: I've color-coded based on sources of macro-nutrient sources, with red being protein, yellow being fats, and blue being carbohydrates (I do realize that nuts and seeds provide some protein, and even carbs, but for all intensive purposes, we will go with this outline for simplicity).

With this formula, there is very little in the ways of grains, pastas, breads, milk, and other forms of highly carb-dense materials. Therefore, it would make sense to think that I recommend less of your overall calorie intake be in the form of carbohydates. That's actually not the case at all! It turns out, we both recommend the exact same proportion sizes to our clients (50% carbs, depending on the client and their goals). Here's where it gets really interesting!

The differences in our recommendations are in the sources. While her guidelines are more based on the total amount of carbs (percent of gram totals consumed per day) I am more focused on the sources. I agreed with her in full that it is more difficult to gain 50% of your daily calories in the form of carbohydrates when it comes from lots of veggies, some fruit, and a little bit of starch. However, easier isn't always better (I have to convince that to people on a daily basis on the topic of exercising vs. not!). There are many positives to choosing to glean your carbs from the sources above, two being:

1) Avoiding Hyperinsulinemia: In a nutshell, when you consume foods with high levels of processed carbohydates, it spikes your blood glucose very quickly (think pastas and breads). To store that, your body dumps a TREMENDOUS amount of insulin into the bloodstream. Over time, your body loses it's "sensitivity" to making insulin (much like getting used to caffeine after consuming it so much for so long) and stops being able to create it as readily. This inevitably can lead to pre-diabetes.

2) Calorie-dense vs. Nutrient-dense: If you consume 2 cups of pasta, that is roughly 30% of your daily intake of calories (not to mention the negative effects above). This to most is just a portion of a meal, not including breads, sauces and other side dishes. If you are gaining your carbohydrates from sources like blueberries, sweet potatoes (occasionally), zucchini, etc., you are going to be able to consume a much larger volume of food, without the calorie density of pastas and grains. And you are getting a greater deal of nutrients and vitamins from these foods as well.

 

One cup of broccoli, 1 medium apple, 1 cup of cherries = 188 calories (total)

One cup of pasta = 221 calories

 So we then talked about how getting our clients to consume 1 cup of pasta was better than consuming 3 cups of pasta, which is undoubtedly true. It donned on me then the true difference in our recommendations: she was using portion control to better clients' diets, while I was using sources to better the diets.

It then it all came down to a single question of a monumental dilemma all of us in the health care industry face. How far do we push our clients to change? And this really is a balance act. If we tell them they really need to cut out pasta from their diet, and they don't like that answer, they will move down the street, and if that person says the same thing, they will keep moving until they like the answer. So will getting them to cut back on their pasta help? Absolutely. Will it help to the extent that they will see the results they most likely want to see? Most likely not (but it is a great start!).  They still run the risk of Hyperinsulinemia with highly processed carbohydrates, and they are still going to be hungrier after a cup of pasta then a cup of all those fruits and veggies, AND lacking in vitamins and minerals they need.

 I agree that something is better than nothing, but my final thought is this...When it comes to your health, isn't it best to shoot for "everything"? If you shoot for the stars, and don't reach them, at least you're on top of the world. If you shoot for a perfect diet, and slip every once in a while, at least you are great most of the time. Ideas to ponder. I hope you enjoy your carbs tomorrow, however you may get them. And remember.

Stay Fit.

And sometimes you just burn off bad carbs the fun way!

"Disclaimer": I want to thank Jill for the discussion we had today. It was great to talk about these topics with a true professional, and get their side of the story. I care for one thing, and one thing only, how to best help people become more fit. I only care about my own opinions in-so-far as they are the best way I know to help someone's fitness. Discussions are the best way to test your own thoughts, learn how to best present them to others, and at times, even learn when you are not right. If I learn something that is better than my own opinions, I will adopt them. That is why I hold opinions, and not beliefs. Opinions are much easier to change.

 I did ask Jill before I posted this if it was okay with her, and she agreed. I also knew she would be reading it, so thanks again for the talk today, it was a blast!