Thursday, September 13, 2012

WEIGHT TRAINING MYTHS

How Fit Can You Get


There is No Good Reason
Not to Weight Train

Good Afternoon Readers,
When I talk to people about weight training I hear many reasons for not doing it and almost all are myths they have heard from people who do not weight train about the "dangers" or "undesired outcomes" of weight training. Well I am here to tell you they are not accurate. I have listed 12 of the most common myths here and a rebuttal for each.

Myth #1: Using Free Weight is Dangerous. Machines have the reputation to be safer than free weights. But studies tell a different story.  Weight lifting does not produce more injuries compared to machines. Weight lifting injury rates are lower than in any other sport.

Myth #2: Weight Lifting is bad For Your Joints. Weight lifting is less stressful on your joints than running: it involves controlled, non-impact movements...Weight lifting and especially strength training will increase the health of your joints by strengthening the muscles & ligaments that keep them together.

Myth #3: Weight Lifting Causes High Blood Pressure. Your blood pressure increases when you lift heavy weights. But it returns to normal after finishing your set. This is how lifting may improve your cardiovascular fitness.

Myth #4: Weight Lifting Makes You Bulky. Muscle is denser than fat. You'll look slimmer at the same body-weight if you increase your muscle mass. The huge guys in muscle magazines are usually supplementing. Many thin people train 6x’s per week but struggle to gain weight. Why?  They may not be eating enough and/or getting enough rest. Your body grows at rest.

Myth #5: Weight Lifting Makes Women Bulky. Those muscular women you can find in muscle magazines had to use steroids to get to that point. A woman you my build muscle, get stronger and improve your physique. But you'll never build as much muscle mass as men can because you have lower testosterone levels. You'll always stay feminine unless you use steroids.

Myth #6: Weight Lifting Stunts Growth. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lou Ferrigno, Dave Draper, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson, Karl Malone, and Michael Vick, etc. all started lifting weights in their early teens and are +6′ /1m82 tall. Supervise youth lifting weights. Enforce proper technique and discourage ego. Note that some believe weight lifting can actually stimulate growth because it increases bone mineralization.

Myth #7: Weight Lifting Decreases Flexibility. One of the realizations people who begin weight training learn is how inflexible they are. Years of sedentary lifestyle may have tightened your hips, preventing you from moving correctly. Weight training may help you regain your flexibility and maintain it. But increasing your muscle mass or strength won't reduce your flexibility at all.

Myth #8: Weight Lifting Makes You Slow. Strong muscles contract faster and generate more power. That's why professional athletes like Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neil or Tiger Woods do weight lifting. Strength training makes you faster and quicker.

Myth #9: Weight Lifting Causes Hemorrhoids. Straining, holding your breath and pushing against your anal sphincter may cause hemorrhoids but not weight training in and of it.

Myth #10: Muscle Turns to Fat If You Stop Weight Lifting. Muscle never turns to fat. They're different tissues. If you stop weight lifting, you also have to eat less than before otherwise you'll get fat.

Myth #11: Weight Lifting Increases Waist Size. This myth comes from looking at some Power Lifters in the heaviest classes. Their waist is big because they're fat. And they're fat is because they only care about getting stronger.

Myth #12: Weight Lifting is Boring. It is if you go the gym without a plan, don't pay attention to what you do when lifting and don't get results. But it won't if you have a plan, get results and focus on how your body moves during a lift.

Weight lifting is a technical and intellectual sport. You shouldn't have time to get bored since you have many things to pay attention to during the workout. And the constant challenge to add weight is anything but boring.

Remember it is okay to just say I do not want to do that but stop spreading the myths. Get up get moving and remember,
 "CHIT CHAT WON'T BURN FAT". Have a great day and a great workout.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Coaching For Success

How Fit Can You Get
Is Required

As we go through life many of us try to do it on our own, and the reality is this is the American way. "Pull yourself up by your boot straps" is the quote I believe made famous by our republican party. And that may be fine for some, but when we venture into personally unfamiliar territory, we probably could use a coach.

I worked at Philadelphia. Dept. of Human Services, for over 26 and other places, and you may think I would know that. But ego is a powerful barrier to break through and it can be the biggest barrier to our success.

Going back, I can remember my coaches in sports. Most successful people have a coach. Someone to push, criticize, motivate and instruct them along the way. There are good ones and bad ones. Mike had a coach, Tiger has a coach, the Donald has a coach, Oprah has a coach, all successful people have one and these people are considered the greats of their industry.

In 1996, I was on the front line of DHS, and a woman from Kansas decided to be my coach and within 4 years I ascended to levels, I never dreamed. I was fortunate to interact with other leaders, and travel around the country as a Keynote speaker, presenter as far as London and Africa. In our first encounter, I stated that I could move from the corner to the boardroom without a hitch.

In my most transforming encounter with her, she asked me, "What do you want to be when you grow up". Understand she was Caucasian, from Kansas with a different lifestyle and several years younger than me. My ego jumped forward and I thought, Who the ____ is she talking too. But something in me said, wait a minute she may be for real. She was and she changed my life forever, for the better. She may blush and, I will not give her name but her initials are DLA. We stay in touch to this day

So be clear money is not the issue. It is a choice, spend money on rims, nails, liquor, hair, but you will pay someone. Make a choice pay, Doctors who treat symptoms and prescribe medicines that create a need for additional prescriptions or get a coach and get well. Whether it is me or someone else you will have to pay. The choice is what do you want, what are buying and is it helping to reach your goal, to be well or using the same strategy the street dealers use to get you addicted to Pharmaceuticals. Pay attention and awake to a real and dynamic lifestyle.

2 Videos that may help




Get up get moving and remember, "CHIT CHAT WON:T BURN FAT".

Monday, September 10, 2012

Obesity's Impact on Women

Being Over Weight Impacts Breast

Good Day Readers,
No the answer is not the size of the breast we are talking about here although that may be so in some women it is not true in all. What I am speaking of is a study that came out in March 2012? Not sure many were aware of this since It just hit the major media market last week. It is breast cancer, yes breast cancer. You ask how well right now more research needs to be completed before they are able to answer that question. 

What they do know is being over weight or obese increases the chances of re occurrence of the cancer in the breast. The rate of first time breast cancer is high with over 230,000 detected in the U.S. in 2011. Projected rates of obesity in the U.S. is estimate to soar to over 40% by 2030. These numbers are not good and may suggest some strong reasons for all of us to begin a training regime that will reduce our risk for many diseases. 

Men you are not off the hook, in 2011, over 2100 men were diagnosed with breast cancer. No study exist as yet regarding being overweight or obese but I feel safe in saying it is not healthy. And there are studies that link obesity to erectile dysfunction. Read for your self but note that the authors admit they do not know if losing the weight will reverse the impact.