You Want To Be Right, Or Do You Want Results?

One of the greatest tools that motivates me to continue to hone my health and fitness knowledge base are the questions posed to me by clients. I say "questions," yet they are usually challenges to a program or routine that I have prescribed. Oddly enough these challenges are usually fashioned in order to avoid the hard work, discipline, and dedication necessary to achieve the desired goal. As much as I enjoy healthy debate, the real question is whether they "Want to be right, or want RESULTS?" With each inquiry about a pill, machine, shoe..............and the list goes on (particularly during the resolution season), that promises to produce faster results one has to keep in mind that the simplest answer is usually the right one. Trust me, if you could achieve extraordinary results with minimal effort, everyone would do it. But its not that easy. To transform your body, you must first transform you mind. The fastest way to to results is patience, perseverance, and persistence.

Improve 1% Everyday!

Fat Energy & The Low Calorie Energy Drink

The prevalence of so called "energy drinks" in the market today leave many in a state of confusing. Are these beverages healthy, do the provided energy as proclaimed by their aggressive names and flashy packaging, can they be both low in calories and still provide energy? The answer is yes and no. Energy drinks can provide energy since, by definition they contain calories and calories are the fuel that provides energy. But this fuel is primarily is the simple form of SUGAR! Clearly sugar is not the best energy source for the body, *except in certain situations, as it rates high on the Glycemic Index and does not provide for prolonged physical endurance. Oddly enough, dietary (healthy) fats provide far more energy than sugar, in fact healthy fats contain more potential energy than carbohydrates and proteins combined. Healthy dietary fat sources include:

• Olive Oil
• Vegetable Oils
• Nuts & Seeds
• Cold Water Fish (Salmon, Mackerel)

When was the last time you looked on an energy drink's container and saw dietary fats included in its ingredients? It is taste and hope that many are slave to. The addiction to sugar and belief that drinking a caffeinated beverage will give one some magical boost of power. The only magic that occurs when consuming one of these drinks, is the magic of convincing one to pay two and three times as much for what basically amounts to a soda. Sodas average about 140 calories, and energy drinks do as well.... at least per serving, and most mega sized drinks contain 2-2.5 servings. So technically you do derive energy, but consider the sugary source. As for low calorie energy drinks, by definition this makes little sense when considering that again energy is fueled by calories. Thus, if there are very few calories in a drink, how can it then provide an ample amount of energy to deem itself an energy drink. A rocket can only be propelled by rocket fuel! You want energy? GO EAT!

Improve 1% Everyday!

*Nutrient timing accounts for the exception to the rule. There are specific times when high glycemic foods should be consume in order to speed recovery and aid protein absorption. 

Insane Training, Insane Results: How training hard can impact your life (True Story)

ASP Moment

"I went to Europe for the holiday and for some reason I was subject to numerous "random" searches which involve an intense frisk. In France they pulled me and made me put my hands out in the Jesus position and proceeded to do an intense frisk. When the guard ran his hand over my rear deltoid area he freaked out and called out that he "got one." Of course numerous guards ran over and began to grill me about what I was hiding under my sweatshirt. I was a little nervous having no idea what they were talking about. Turns out that he thought my rear delt muscle was some sort of foreign object. They didn't believe me when I told them that I had nothing under there. After taking off my shirt to  reveal a wife beater tank top in the middle of the airport I got a swift apology. You may want to warn people that your circuit routines may cause problems at the airport. This just happened in France on Saturday. I don't know what they might have done to you my friend. I am only a galo (126lb fighter)." -David Zwanetz Grappler Lawyer

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The Talent Syndrome

Are you too talented to train hard? Odd question, but unfortunately many emerging and highly talented athletes consciously or subconsciously subscribe to this philosophy. Having worked and consulted with world class athletes, I have seen this mistake time and again. I found myself holding an impromptu lecture with a team mate of one ASP alum/team member #38 Marcus Dowtin LB for the University of Georgia on my recent visit to watch the Bulldogs take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. We spoke about some nagging injuries he had with his hamstrings, to which I responded that most people fail to train their posterior chain and thus suffer such injuries. His response to that was that that made sense, but because of his natural talent he did not see the purpose of training legs..........the classic, "I Hate Training Legs!" My challenge to him was what if by failing to comprehensively train his legs, he might actually not be taking full advantage of his performance potential. I took it a step further and proposed, what if by simply failing to train your hamstrings that you lower your draft status and thus cost yourself millions of dollars? It was funny to watch his face freeze up as he considered the prospect.

This example just illustrates how the perspective of highly talented athletes view their training and performance. Most athletes with a superior level of talent wait until they have suffered injury, or their talent begin to diminish before their take a serious look at their conditioning program. Think about professional athletes that are drafted high but quickly wash out of their respective leagues, as compared to those taken in later rounds but work hard to become stars for years to come. Consider athletes that peak on the amateur level and because they did not put in the work to refine their abilities, are quickly forgotten? When deciding whether you want to train today think about how many millions of people across the world aspire to the same goal that you seek to achieve? Are you working harder than them? Are you studying as diligently as they are? Have you reached 10,000 hours as proposed by Malcolm Gladwell in the book Outliers?

Team Lloyd Irvin lives by the philosophy, "Hard work always beats talent, when talent refuses to work hard!" This statement sums up how important it is to constantly improve. As I always remind my clients, there is no maintaining. You are either improving or moving backwards as the world/competition surpasses you. Never take talent for granted and always remember that there is some one somewhere working to take you spot.

Improve 1% Everyday!  

Inspiration

Whether you know it or not, you are someone's inspiration. Your actions can inspire someone to doing something good or bad. So, being an inspiration to others entails immense responsibility. Simply choosing to being committed to yourself and your fitness goals can greatly impact those around. If only to encourage others to live a healthier lifestyle, proper health and nutrition can be your vehicles for change in others. Many are often inspired by athletes, but everyday people provide just as much inspiration for those that need to see examples of transformation from the neighbor, coworker, or friend.

So, go and be inspiration. Be an inspiration for your family, friends, but most of all for yourself. You just might change someone's life while shaping your on.


Improve 1% Everyday!

Pills & Potions II

The most full proof way to cut body fat and improve your health and fitness is proper diet and exercise. Pills and shakes, etc do not teach you the healthy habits that will transform your life. Hydroxycut in particular is another gimmick. If you want to know the truth of any product, read the fine print. The common denominator with all of the weight loss products or fad machines is proper diet and exercise. Hydroxycut can be dangerous when you consider that its active ingredients work to speed up your heart rate (which is worse when you consider an already elevated heart rate during a workout), even though it claims to speed your metabolism. By the same token beware of the diet suppressants as well. They claim to curb your appetite.........Right? Well, what is the point of "curbing your appetite" aka encouraging you not to eat aka starving yourself, when this course of action does not contribute to speeding up your metabolism. Be sure you are not sending your body the wrong signals. HYDROXYCUT ONLY WORKS ON YOUR WALLET! Eat clean, eat often, and train consistently....The secret is, there is no secret.

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Weekend Food Woes

Does this sound familiar? “I eat well during the week, but on the weekends my diet seems to fall apart.” Surviving the weekend eating challenge is key to achieving your fitness and physique goals. People often find it easier to stick to a healthy eating regimen during the week, as the days are pretty well structured and we are occupied by the daily duties of life and work. But the free form nature and periods of idle time present during the weekend offers the opportunity for people to stray from the healthy nutrition track. In many ways it seems odd that this phenomenon occurs considering that it would seem that we would actually have more time to focus on our eating.

Sleeping in and lounging around the house can lead to overeating and bad snacking. As with everything else in life, weekend eating is all about conditioning and the development of healthy eating behaviors. Whereas a bowl of oatmeal with almonds and a small glass of juice may suffice during the week, many automatically switch into pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon, syrup, butter mode.
To beat the temptation of “weekend food disasters, remember to make a plan. Planned eating does not allow for much deviation. Also, do not allow events (parties, dancing, movie, going, etc) to dictate your eating. Remember to indulge in moderation. And last, make the best choices from the foods that are available. When eating out remember your healthy food principles, and stick with water instead of a soda.

Improve1%Everyday!