A Punch in the Face

by Doug Betts

(Note to the reader: I’m going to go off on a pretty big tangent, but I will reveal my point about mid-way through this piece. Stay patient while I go on and on, there is a pretty big payoff at the end! Also, you should know that I don't advocate violence. I'm only using it here to demonstrate a point!)

Everybody gets mad sometimes. Every once in a while you get really, really angry. I’ve ticked off a few people in my day (sometimes by doing nothing more than being a morning person!). I’m sure I’ve even driven a few people to fantasies of punching me in the face. Luckily, outside of competitive fighting, I’ve managed to avoid that. I’ve often wondered about that fine line between throwing a punch and holding back. We stop ourselves in the name of being civilized. Fighting is kind of taboo in our society (to say the least). Obviously, some pretty major consequences can arise from it. They might hit back. We may be fined or incarcerated. We may even find ourselves the subject of a law suit. Aside from that, we worry about what people will think about us, so we take any desires we may have to hit someone, bottle them up, and store them deep down inside.

We’ve all seen those movies where one character, usually the antagonist, is just an all-out jerk to the main character. Throughout the movie, the main character maintains composure while this putz lays it on thick. You can see the frustration, the hurt, and the longing for the strength just to stand up to the verbal bully. Usually in the climactic scene, the main character, having gone through some sort of transformation, goes through a really bad string of demeaning insults brought on my the nemesis. Instead of the normal reaction, we find extreme relief to see the hero punch the villain square in the mouth.

What changed in the hero’s mind? Why did our protagonist ignore all of the aforementioned consequences? Because this formerly meek and meager person had enough. There’s only so far people can be pushed before they stop caring about consequences. If you get to that point, you’re willing to deal with whatever consequences arise.

Okay, before you start thinking that I’m advising you to go around punching people, I’d better tell you what all of this has to do with your quest for a flat tummy.

Just like punching somebody, getting serious about a weight loss program has consequences. We don’t normally call them that, but that’s exactly what they are. You will lose out on time to do other things. You will be sore. You will watch your friends eat all of your favorite foods while you abstain. Another similarity your weight loss program has with punching someone is the fact that most people won’t go that far. Most people will remain like the meek, meager version of the movie characters. There comes a time, however, where you have to stop caring about the consequences and go for it (the weight loss program, not punching somebody!). Only then will you drop your inhibitions. Only then can you exercise with appropriate vigor. Only then can you bring about positive change.

I know somebody who actually gets kind of a sick enjoyment out of the “consequences” that his goals bring. He’s of the mindset that these consequences are what will bring him closer to his goal. While everybody else is avoiding the consequences, he’s actually almost seeking them out! The same holds true for you, as well. Adopt the attitude of “yeah, bring it on!” Then take comfort in knowing that you are one of the few who is willing to face the fire and do what it takes to achieve a result.

So what now? Are you going to stay the same, or are you willing to really go for it? You need to decide right here, right now that you are willing to put up with all the bad stuff so you can get the good stuff. Consequences be dammed!

Let Sonee Get Your Upper Body in Shape!

This is part one of a series. Check back next Tuesday for more!

Try This!

by Doug Betts
Here's a cool idea to try on your next workout. Forget about reps. Instead of counting how many times you can lift a particular weight, try setting a timer. You're not allowed to stop moving the weight until the time is done. There is a concept The known to the Exercise Science community as time under tension. The idea is that it doesn't matter how many reps you complete, just how long your muscles are working against resistance. I can't say I buy the theory completely, but I do think there may be some merit. If nothing else, it adds some variety to your routine. So if you're getting bored with your workout, stop counting and start watching the clock!

Doug Shows Us How To Stretch

Lessons from The Biggest Loser

By Emily Gilly

This week I watched a recent episode of The Biggest Loser. Which is odd for me, because I’m not usually a fan. That said, I am really starting to see the appeal. The season is now ended, but I happen to catch this episode where the remaining contestants run a marathon. That’s 26.2 miles! In just six months, these morbidly obese people went from completely out of shape to marathon runners!

As I watched I found myself in complete awe of these people. I workout regularly but I wondered if I could do what they were doing. Even if I had six months to train, could I do a marathon? It was downright inspiring to me.

How about you? What inspires you to do more, run harder, and persevere? I think that everyone who seeks to be fit is inspired by something. For millions the Biggest Loser has inspired them to lose weight. I have to say that I am blown away by the way it has helped so many people face their weight issues.

What inspires you to be healthy?

Stretching: the Truth

By Lisa Ann Smith
Via Women's Health Magazine

Stretching is like backing up your PC: You know you should do it, but it's easy to blow off. Besides, you never really learned how. Stretch before you sweat? After? Are a couple of toe touches enough? If you're anything like us, you're so confused you may not bother stretching at all.

But that kind of play-and-pray strategy is risky. Unlike your computer, your body doesn't auto-save. You risk losing your range of motion and stability if you skip out on stretching. So we asked experts to analyze the research and give us the real deal.

What we learned: There are three key kinds of stretching. Combine them strategically (yet simply) and you'll prepare your muscles to expand and contract quickly so you can finesse your way around the field, up your flexibility, and promote healing between workouts.

Addition by Subtraction

Via Yahoo Health By By Mark Anders, Men's Health

Standard crunches
Abs are all about body fat. Once you get your percentage into single digits, try doing planks (work up to holding the position for 2 to 3 minutes) and Swiss-ball crunches (start with 10 reps and work up to 30 to 40). "Both are better than the standard crunch for bringing out your abs," says Tom Seabourne, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., an exercise physiologist and sports psychologist at Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant.

Protein
Too much of a good thing can be, well, a bad thing. "Your body can use only so much protein, and then some of it is just converted into fat instead of going to your muscles," says Mike Bracko, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., an exercise physiologist at the Institute of Hockey Research in Calgary, Alberta. He recommends consuming no more than 0.5 to 1 gram of protein per pound of your body weight each day.

Calf Raises
"Squats work all those tiny muscles in and around the calves, so you don't need to use calf-raise machines," says Seabourne. He recommends doing three sets of eight to 12 squats with heel raises. Lower your body with your feet flat on the floor until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Pause, then stand back up and rise onto the balls of your feet.

Jogging
If you're devoting too much time to cardiovascular workouts, it could be compromising your muscle development. When you jog, you use mostly slow-twitch muscle fibers, and the constant pounding seems to have a shrinking effect on your upper-body muscles. It's best to do sprints for your cardio at a track or football field. On a treadmill, after a light 3-minute warmup jog, sprint for 30 seconds, then rest for a minute, and repeat this sequence for 10 minutes.

Curls
"Curls are a waste of time because they isolate a muscle group that's the size of an orange," says Juan Carlos Santana, M.Ed., C.S.C.S., director of the Institute of Human Performance in Boca Raton, Florida. Instead, work larger muscle groups with pulling exercises such as lat pulldowns and rows, both of which also work your biceps. Then do two or three sets of 12 to 15 repetitions of either barbell curls or standing dumbbell curls, says Santana.

Workout Streaks
"I've observed that when people finally take a day off in their weekly strength programs, they start to get stronger and bigger," says Seabourne. That's because muscles grow during rest. Two days a week of strength training per muscle group is all you need.

Rest Between Sets
"Less rest time can sometimes increase the amount of testosterone your body is producing," says Bracko. Try supersets—performing two exercises back to back without rest. For instance, do a set of bench presses immediately followed by a set of seated cable rows. Then rest for 90 to 180 seconds.

Leg Extensions
Switch to body-weight lunges instead. Leg extensions isolate only your quads, while lunges work your quadriceps and butt and force you to stabilize your abs, lower back, and hips.

Bench Presses
Do more pushups, which build core musculature and upper-body strength. Santana recommends limiting your bench presses to three to five sets per week and incorporating six to 12 sets of pushups, including three-point pushups and those in which you wear a weighted body vest, elevate your feet, or hold a medicine ball between your hands.

Chest Stretches Between Sets of Bench Presses
For up to 15 minutes following a static stretch, your muscles and tendons stay stretched and are temporarily weakened, says Bracko. "A doorway stretch done between sets of bench presses actually makes your muscles weaker, so you won't be able to lift as much," Bracko says. Save it for afterward, during your cooldown.

New Years Resolution Guidelines by Charles Poliquin

1. I will strive to follow the motto “If it doesn’t fly, swim or walk or it isn’t green, don’t eat it!” You will find that it is actually easier to learn basic nutrition principles than to follow a rigid diet plan. Soon these ideas will be incorporated into your daily routine and you won’t consciously think about them anymore.

2. I will meet my protein goal, five times a day. This is of course a general recommendation that depends upon many factors such as lean bodyweight, but the idea is that you want is to try to have some protein in every meal. However, be certain to vary the protein sources so that food allergies don’t result. Organic meats, particularly wild ones such as elk and Wapiti, fish (except tuna) are among the best sources of protein.

3. I will consume only 50 grams of fibrous carbs a day. You will need fibrous carbs such as cauliflower, broccoli and spinach, as this fiber balances a high-protein nutrition program.

4. I will always drink a post-workout shake that fits my body compostion. This drink will do wonders for post-workout recovery – try it once and you’ll be a believer.

5. I will plan a cheat meal every 5 days. Being too strict with your nutrition program increases your risk of failure. However, planning your cheat meals ensures that you don’t go overboard and inhale a gallon of Chunky Monkey ice cream.

6. I will consume vegetables as often as possible. It is rare that I meet anyone who consumes enough vegetables, so strive to have at least one at every meal. As an option, you can substitute a glass of Phyto Px, Primal Red or Primal Greens with your meals – but don’t solely rely on these drinks for your vegetables.?

7. I will avoid all trans fats. This is one nutrition concept that the media got right – there are no safe levels of trans fats.

8. I will avoid all food allergens that I know of. Among the most common allergens are gluten, and dairy products. But this is just common sense – if a specific food makes you ill, then don’t eat it! Better even yet, get your food sensitivities panel done!

9. I will never use artificial sweeteners. None. Not even a little. This means you need to carefully read all the low-carb labels.