We've all seen these guys at the gym ...... For those of you who are not up to date on the latest fitness meets pop culture trends of the minute those are the Vibram Five Fingers... Get it? 5 toes, they're each separated, like fingers in a glove only it's on your foot...get it? They've become very popular in the last 2 years or so to the point where now I see people come to the gym for the first time EVER IN THEIR LIVES with Vibrams on. I'm guessing this has a lot to do with 2 things which have seemingly acted synergistically in this time frame. Born To Run by Christopher McDougall It's a national bestseller about the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico. … [Read more...]
Doing it Better: The Push-up
September 27, 2012 by
Know what every guy in every gym does on every Monday? He benches.... Monday is basically National Bench Press Day every week all year.... The funny thing is that all these 200lbs guys and their 225lbs benches, which they think is really good cause "they do it at the combine" can't do 20 good pushups. Which is a shame because pushups, in a lot of respects, are actually a much better exercise. Here's some of the awesomeness of pushups: Core activation Serratus activation Safe on the rotator cuff The scapula get to move naturally (small upward rotation) Self limiting i.e. hard to get hurt Thoracic extension Take note: all of the above only … [Read more...]
11, Have a Better Workout Today Warmups.
September 25, 2012 by
I know, we went over the whole warm-up thing in this blog Warm Up Warriors: Overboard or on Target so obviously people who read it, all both of them (thanks mom, grandma), were like, "Well Mr. Smarty Pants what should I do before I workout"? Generally speaking, here's what you should do: SMR: Foam Rolling, Lacrosse ball work, The Stick, etc. Stretch: Hip flexors, Glutes, Chest, Lats, Calves (especially for the ladies who wear heels) Activate: Bridges, Knee Outs, TKE's (yes, I know everyone hates these now. But guess what? Experience has told me these make my clients knees feel better.....so I do them with lots of clients), pull aparts, wall slides Move: … [Read more...]
Doing it Better: Planking
September 20, 2012 by
Planks are really boring. "Planking" is really stupid: Planking is a photo fad which involves lying face down with arms to the sides in unusual public spaces, photographing the scene and sharing the image online. In form, it bears striking resemblance to the Lying Down Game, a similar photo fad that became popular among UK Facebook users in 2010. http://youtu.be/csS_oySjfjU But planks have value and even though they are boring as hell I still make people do them cause, plain and simple, they work. Problem is that after a couple of months most folks can hold a plank without any problem....for ......a ........long........time. Yes, I used to make people … [Read more...]
STOP DOING THIS!! “Tampon” Edition
September 18, 2012 by
"Squats With the Bar Hurt my Neck" When someone says this they have told me instantly that they have no idea what's going on. First question is: What the hell is the bar doing on your neck? Of course it hurts your neck. Reach around (no not that type of "reach around"...perverts) and feel the back of your neck. Go ahead, do it. You were probably all like, A. "You're stupid and this is stupid and I'm not doing it and I'm done reading this ridiculousness." or B. "It feels like skin and bony, knobby things which I probably shouldn't have a metal bar weighing a couple hundred pounds on." For the A's in the audience: That's not nice. For the B's: You're … [Read more...]
Book Review: Easy Strength
September 10, 2012 by
I'm a REALLY big nerd. When most people go on vacation they do a whole lot of nothing and when they do read something it's usually not "industry related". I'm guessing the economists of the world are not on the beach going, "WOW, this expose on the European debt crisis is just fascinating".......then again they are economist....bad example, my bad. (I kid, I kid) That said isn't that the whole reason people go on vacation in the first place to get away from work? Well as I said, I'm a nerd so I do things like read issues of the Strength and Conditioning Journal and books about training to "get away from work". My latest entry into nerd-dom lead me to, Easy … [Read more...]
Time, money, and How to build a kick ass home gym for a grand or less….
September 4, 2012 by
I know, a grand is a lot of cash......but in reality it's all about perspective. What are you getting out of that $1,000? (assuming that you actually follow through and use the equipment). Would you pay $1,000 to: NOT have your knees hurt every time you walk down stairs, up stairs or bend down? NOT get headaches throughout the day? NOT have your back hurt all day every day? NOT be tired and worn down from doing just the basics of everyday life? NOT be overweight? NOT have the medical issues that are associated with being overweight (diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol)? NOT have to pay every month for those medications? I'm guessing the … [Read more...]
Kids are Kids, NOT Little Adults
July 10, 2012 by
Things that piss me off in "Fitness": Ohh how I loathe: CrossFit for competitive athletes and average people and for that matter anyone who doesn't plan on competing in CrossFit...btw Robb Wolf agrees Yoga/ Pilates to lose weight (and cure cancer) Group Exercise class, especially the choreographed kind The Bender ball Unstable surface training Distance Running Opinons passed off as scientifically tested truth: BROSCIENCE! But Nothing and I mean NOTHING pisses me off like training children as if they are adults. That, my friends is the epitome of ignorance in physical preparation. This morning I got an email from a friend who is coaching his … [Read more...]
