June 27, 2010

Rise to the Occasion!

You will rise to the performance & health level that you choose.
In the quest to help you spark you on your path to improved vitality...

You Don't Know Squat?!  Then Know Squat!Watch people walk.  Look at the posture.  Good gait while walking and strong posture is
imperative when it comes to being agile, mobile and therefore capable of taking on more
stress/load.  There are a lot of people who "exercise" but can't do a deep squat.  I see
alleged "yoga" takers who would fall down if they were asked to squat deep.  Bottom
line - if your bottom can break parallel on a squat with your shoulders up and weight
centered, that's a good start!  The Squat is a fundamental, critical component to building
the rest of your program.  Can't squat?  Can't do much else then.

Nutrient DensityI get asked to look at more wrappers, ingredient lists and food options than that Man v. Food
guy (great show by the way).  What most of you are really asking is "will this food make me
fat," or "is this healthy for me."  Here is what I look for when consuming ALL foods:  How dense
is the nutrient makeup of the food?  Example:  a piece of white bread is not nutrient dense. 
Broccoli is.  Both carbs but way more density in the broccoli plus you get a boost of vitamins
and essential chemical components that will add to the nutrient value of the food.  The next
time you get ready to suck down something, think of how packed it is with nutrients.  And ask
yourself what your body will do with that food (how it will affect and support your health and
performance goals.)

Get Strong, Lift HeavyTo get strong, you gotta lift heavy.  That's it.  You don't get stronger by doing 20 reps of the
inner/outer thigh machine after you do a few bicep curls.  You do get strong by learning and
progressing at movements like the push-up, squat, deadlift, pull-up and other compound
movements.  Stretching, "core" work, LSD (long slow duration) cardio work and "power
walking" just delay the inevitable decline.  Power is the end game.  There are no excuses
for not lifting heavy.  Regardless of where you are at right now, you can progress and see
marked results by focusing on getting stronger.  Most are just afraid.  Fear is easily overcome
and you will soon ask yourself why you didn't do this sooner. Plus you'll like the thinner waist,
increased metabolism and better energy!

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens (Jimi Hendrix)
Celebrate the fact you have the potential to find more potential!
- Doug Katona