Mass Hysteria...

There are few things in this world I hate. Its a strong word and tends to invoke many negative felling/actions on both side of the equation. So, I try my best to stay away from it. But I can honestly say that I HATE the opportunistic, leaching, bullshit that is being thrown at people in the name of health and fitness.

Exhibit A: Cleansing for Weight Loss.
Nothing could be praying on the desperate masses more than the bullshit of "Cleansing for Weight Loss". Now don't get me wrong, I love cleansing! I believe in the rejuvinating effects of cleansing. I have seen the health benefits for cleansing with my own eyes with some of the worst health conditions known to man! But to trick people with the thought that cleansing is a valid way to loose weight, and keep it off no less, is straight out BULLSHIT! There are "Celeberty Trainers" that make a killing by acting like "Oz". "It will boost your metabolism!" "You'll loose fat!" "You'll have more energy!" Only 2 of those claims are true. One is a partial truth and the one that is false is so fucking false it makes me want to beat the shit out the person saying it.
This is the irresponsible nature/society that is festering personal training today.

Exhibit B: Training Gimmicks
ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS!!?? Why are people trying re-invent the wheel?!? The men and women that made the physical culture what it is today were no saints. Some did exactly this. They created gimmicks to sell to the masses in the name of health and fitness. Snake oil is nothing new. But we have become so lazy in our pursuit of a lean muscular body that we are desperate enough to trust something that is not proven and dismiss what is. The body itself is powerful enough to create a physique that most will be very happy with. No money out of pocket. But its not packaged with flashing text, sexy models or a cool pitchman. So...no one wants to by it.
I have gathered enough "tools" to take anyone (housewife, weekend warrior, or elite athlete) and put them through a solid bodyweight workout that will get the job done. This is more of where my spiritual approach to strength training (because that is what fitness really is), but one must mast ones body before you master the environment you live in.

Exhibit C: Supplements
Because there is no regulation (this is both a blessing and curse), supplements are not even a shadow of what they use to be and should be. When you look back to the start of supplementation, not just for fitness but health in general, it was done with the intention and practice of providing therapeutic dosing for the purpose of BALANCING the body's physiology. First, look at the word: "supplement". They have always and should be used to supplement your current diet. Not replace anything!!! I have seen too many trainers/coaches suggest supplements over real food. There are certain instances where the predominate use of supplements is needed, but when you look at the public at large they are additions, not substitutes. So many supplements now are fairy dust and donkey piss that your better off not buying them at all. 90% of all "nutrition" bars and pre-made shakes are WORSE than some fast food. EDUCATION! Its the only way to be sure you get what you need.

Exhibit D: Training Systems.
This is a recent thorn in my side. In the beginning of my career I followed only a couple beliefs and bad mouthed everything else. I now sing a different song. Want to hear it? Ok...me me me. Do do do do. Ok, I am ready. "EVERYTHING WORKS AND EVERYTHING FAILS." At one point in time, what ever system you looked at has worked 100% for a certain number of people and it has failed just as many. The dogmatic approach to training is a sure way to either fail yourself or your clients. When distilled to the bare essentials, all systems/schools have the same philosophy: "Work hard, stay focused, eat clean food and rest." How you do all this is open to the way you feel, what you like, and what you are comfortable with. There I just filtered all the bullshit for you so you can concentrate on the stuff that matters, the training protocols. Certain system's training protocols are more powerful than others and work in different situations than others.

Through my years I exposed myself the work of some great people. A few that are note worthy are:

Charles Staley, Phil Stevens, Dan John, Rob Fortney, Dr. Lonnie Lowrey, Paul Chek, Mike DeMora, Ian King, Mike Mahler, Mark Ripptoe, Carl Lanore Dave Tate, Casandra Forsyth, Alan Cosgrove, Jim Smith.... this list can get huge fast. But this is the most distilled version I present here.

Find the works of these professionals and educate yourself. Don't be a sheep.

For those that are following my progress. I didn't workout Friday, because I watched TV late with the wifey. I don't get to spend as much time with her as I would like, so I took advantage of the time I had.

45mins.
Dynamic Warm Up - 10mins

Crunches w/10lbs x40 (these are getting easy and I need to find something more challenging)
Windmills w/16kg KB x40 (It took me 3 rounds again)
Club Butterfly x45 (I need to add speed to theses.)
*I took 3 rounds on all of the following*
Squats w/16kg KB x40
BO Row w/16 & 24kg KB (I am going to need to make the switch to 24kg completely very soon)
Push Ups X40 (used varying hand widths)
Swings w/24kg KB (My first 2 rounds were 15reps. My back is getting stronger. Cleans and Snatches aren't far away!)
-Used the standard 30sec rest between all movements-

I am really hoping that our tax return will allow me to get some sandbags. This would add a great deal more variety to my training. Though, I am thinking I need a pull up bar more. I might have to flip a coin over it. Let fate decide.

...'Til I Collapse

...a good song to start a workout to. The intro, though simple, is all too true. There are a lot of songs/artists that get me geeked out. My brother just turned me onto a band called "Volbeat". They a Bluegrass/Metal sound. Very cool for workout music.
I have replaced a training partner with good music. There are only 2 people on this planet who I would train side by side with and they both sadly live too far away. There is a 3rd, he just needs to stop making excuses for himself and fucking slang iron.

45 mins today.

Dynamic Warm Up - 10mins
Crunshes x45 reps
Windmills x40reps (this was one of 3 movements that took me 3 rotations.)
Club Butterflys x40 (I need to get my 2lbs Clubs back).

Squats w/ 16kg KB x35 (this could have been pushed to 40, but my legs were still a little stiff from Monday)
BO Row w/16kg KB x35 (should have gone 40)
Push ups x 35 (took 3 rounds)
Swings w/24kg KB x35 (took 3 rounds just to be safe. Back was feeling a little weak)
*New Movement for Wed Only*
-Iranian Drumming w/ 10lbs Clubs x30.

So far this week has gone perfectly. Nothing is hurting during or after the workout. My recovery is moving rather well, though I need to mobilize myself on my off days.

I need to weight myself... I haven't done it in a while and I kind of wanted to do it before I got started, but I just didn't care enough about it to do it. I should also think about doing my Bodyfat % too.

I hated hearing from clients about what they read on the scale after a 6 week program, " I gained 10lbs! What are we doing wrong?" My answer was always the same, "If you had listened in the beginning, you will GAIN weight within the first 6 weeks because your body is going to hold more glycogen to compensate for the new physical stress. Fluid takes up space and it had weight to it. Plus, your body fat is more important since you 'Wanted to loose fat', right?" The lack of education is numbing to me. I use to hold the hands of my clients too much, make excuses for them and make them feel good more than I should have.
When I get back in the gym, no more hand holding, "You are directly responsible for the progress you achieve. Your failure to execute my directions is your own stubborn will and lack of respect for me as a professional." This will be my opening speech. If the client walks, fine. If they stay, then they are ready for the self-education their subconscious is craving. Don't get me wrong, I am not looking to crush the will and body of my clients to the point of shear slavery, but they need to understand that their way failed (because if it worked, they wouldn't be in front of me) and they need to submit to a degree to my dictatorship. Only when they have demonstrated a clear ability to follow the rules will they gain freedom.

Training Reboot...Take 3!!

Woke up this morning at 4:50am. My poor wife had a rough night with the baby. Avery was being very cooperative with sleeping for a while.


The workout. I am running with Chad Waterbury's approach to simple training. No sets, just reps. Complete the designated number of reps in what ever time frame presents itself.

40mins was my present time at the following program:

Dynamic Warm up
Crunches: 40reps
Windmills: 40reps
Club Butterflys: 40reps
30sec rest periods in between exercises.

Squats(16kg KB held at chest level): 35reps
BO Row(16kg KB): 35reps
Pushups: 35reps
KB Swings/2 Hands(24kg KB): 35reps.
30sec rest between exercises.

I only got to 30 on the main portion of the workout, but it was a fast rotation. I needed to be done by 6am.
I am focusing on the basics for the next 8 weeks to find a rhythm and build myself back up. Not working out for 4 months has made me weak and stiff. I guess this is how alot of my old clients felt. Sad.

I was impressed that my neck, which has been a total bitch for the last 2 weeks, felt better AFTER the workout. Huge bonus!

It 7:06am and I am waiting for Avery to wake up while I eat my breakfast.

There is rain scheduled for Wednesday morning. I just hope it shows up earlier than I wake up.

Back in the saddle...

There have been a handful of times where I have expressed my thoughts on to paper or ,in this case, typing. I don't really know why I am choosing to do it now.

Its 6:22am on Monday the 17th. My wife just got done with her shower, my daughter is in bed (though that is a relative term since about this time she wakes herself up) and I am sweating over my keyboard and cat. I restarted my workout this week having been sidelined because of a freak bout of stiffenss in my neck that lingered for about a week. OH DEAR GOD DID I MISS IT!! Not in the way I would miss my wife or daughter if I was away for longer than a week, but like a drug. The shakes you get from glycogen depletion...the rush of adrenaline you get when you finish a set stronger than you started. My workouts are my place of Zen. Where I can be alone with my thoughts in competition to control my body and rule the weight in front of me.

I have trained since middle school. I can remember my PE teacher pulling out a concrete weight set and beaten up bench and announcing that we are going to learn how to lift weights. Looking back, he had no fucking clue. Never showed us proper technique, spotting or anything of that nature. Just get under/grab the bar and push/pull. That was it. The addiction followed into high school, though I was never much of an athlete. I was too interested in the social aspect of school to care about much of anything. But my dad got a full home gym with a 300lb olympic set. We got in the garage and I started lifting after school. Again...the addiction took over. I jumped from 190lbs in my Freshman year to 215 the start of my Sophomore. By the time I finished high school I was 235lbs and kind of sloppy at that...but I was strong as an ox. I was benching 300+ getting ready to squat 400 and could deadlift 375 for triples.

Not long after my Junior year I met a guy who was an amateur powerlifter. ADDICT!!! I got serious in college. I trimmed down to 225 and my bench jumped to 375, squat was 450 and dead was nearing 430. I was in heaven!! POP! (massive amounts of screaming)...back went out. I was pulling a double day that month and I was working on the leg press. I really don't know what happened. Too much work, not enough rest/warm up...It doesn't matter. I seriously injured my back. So much to the point that I never touched a leg press again. The guy teaching me ignored my calls and question. Who know, who cares. I was in major pain. There were days I would wake up and lose all feeling from my waist down, collapse on the floor and it would take about 15mins before I could get up again. Lost, weakened, and scared.

During the time in my life I was learning another habitual addiction...Personal Training. I started my career in the summer of my Junior and Senior year of high school started working at a local gym with the local guru. As fate would have it, he was a Physical Therapist as well. On top of learning about the trade, I gain a wealth of knowledge that would help me with my injury. There was a Chiropractor in the offices above the gym. My mentor told me to go see him about my injury. I did. My sessions started with simple traction in an Inversion Table. In 4 weeks, I was without pain. 6weeks I was lifting. 3 months, I felt like my old self. But I was sacred. I didn't know were to go and how to do anything. I was a wet, cold, scared puppy in the gym. So, I started reading. I wasn't alone.

...its 7:13am. I can hear my daughter waking through the monitor. The cat had mounted my lap and I need to eat...

...to be continued...