Collected Fitness Wisdom #25

No part of the body is an island unto itself. Try to pick up a pen off the floor using just your hand. It’s impossible. Even such a simple movement simultaneously engages our legs, core, shoulders, arms, and neck. But for decades ‘experts’ have told us to train using machines and 2-D movements that isolate muscle groups. The body is an interconnected chain of muscles. Striving for isolation is beyond pointless—it’s a total waste of time. Use training movements that challenge the entire body in every plane of motion. Forget weight machines. Every movement we perform as humans is a whole-body movement. Make your body your machine.

~TRX Training Tips

The opposite of winning isn't losing, it's quitting.

~Scott Sonnen

Focus on the intensity of your workouts and focus on working the body as a whole in order to get the best metabolic response to lose that stubborn stomach fat.

In order to really get lean, the workouts should have a high intensity, with short rest periods, working the largest muscle groups of the body, instead of trying to isolate specific small muscles like the biceps, triceps, or calves.

~Mike Geary

The fact is there are always excuses. Instead of wasting your time and energy finding one that sounds good, why not just admit you’re not up for the challenge? Ultimately, you must make the decision to change. If you’re not ready, then just admit it.

~Jeremy Likness

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More On Me Vs. Facebook

Now I'm really confused. On August 15th, I wrote about Facebook rejecting an ad for my boot camp. They had some issue with the photo I wanted to use. You can see their "reasoning" here and read my reaction at Facebook Promotes Violence And Death But Rejects Ad For Healthy Living

Then on the 20th, I posted a picture that Facebook allowed on a TRX ad and wondered why, since it certainly seemed to show more skin than the photo I submitted. You can see that post at Update On Me Vs. Facebook.

Now that you're all caught up, here's the latest. Apparently, there is a new exercise gadget called the Windjector. I'd never heard of it before and even after going to their website, I don't know how to describe it to you. (It really has no bearing on this post but if you want to see the Windjector in action, you can go to Windjector Pro.)

Anyway, Windjector is running an ad on Facebook using this photo...

Although I find Facebook's rejection of my ad annoying and bad for our country, I'll admit to having a little fun with the situation. However, now things have turned ridiculous.

Someone could have possibly come up with some irrational reason why the TRX ad was acceptable and mine was not but now we have an apples-to-apples comparison. How is my photo (A) in any way more "explicit or provocative" than Windjector's (B)? It definitely doesn't "reveal too much skin" in comparison to B.

B

A

So if my ad wasn't rejected for "too much skin" then it must be the other part of Facebook's policy. But wait,  if anything, Windjector's ad promotes an "idealized body type" more than mine. Look at the definition in B's abs! Beautiful but not to the folks at Facebook, unfortunately.

Based on the rejection e-mail I received and comparing the photos, Windjector is clearly in violation of...

Images that are overly explicit or provocative, or that reveal too much skin, are not permitted.

and / or

Images that may either degrade or idealize any health condition or body type are also not allowed.

So why the double standard? What's your opinion?

The 7 Deadly Workout Sins by B.J. Gaddour

If you're not happy with the results you've been getting from your workout routine or if you're gearing up to start exercising, you need to read this great article by B. J. Gaddour. It's long but well worth it. 

Stop spinning your wheels and start getting results.

The 7 DEADLY Workout Sins

MISSION: METABOLISM

Discover How to Fix the 7 Deadly Workout Sins to Achieve Metabolic Breakthrough

B.J. Gaddour, C.S.C.S.

Here's that link again...www.workoutmuse.com/blog/the-7-deadly-workout-sins

A Healthier Coffee Creamer Alternative from Mike Geary

I'm not a coffee drinker but I know many of you are. I recently received an email from Mike Geary, author of Truth About Six-Pack Abs containing this alternative to the unhealthy, processed creamers that most people use.

A Healthier Coffee Creamer Alternative

Another thing that's come up on this roadtrip was trying to find a healthy alternative to typical powdered coffee creamers or those little processed individual liquid coffee creamers, which usually contain high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, and other crappy "non-food" additives and chemicals.

While I usually don't drink coffee at home and I prefer teas of all different types, I do like to drink coffee while traveling...it's sort a treat for me since I don't drink it at home.

But instead of loading up the coffee with lots of sugars and chemical-laden artificial creamers, what we've been doing at the cabin we're staying at is using a can of coconut milk as our coffee creamer and using stevia for the sweetener.

The coconut milk is a healthier alternative because of the healthy fats, specifically the medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) it contains, which support your immune system and are a type of fat calories that are readily used for energy.

Although my family thought it was a little unusual to use the coconut cream/milk as a coffee creamer, after they tasted it, everybody really liked it.

If you're a coffee drinker and you've been hooked on all of those artificial chemical-laden coffee creamer powders or liquids, give coconut milk a try for a much healthier alternative!

Make sure to shake up the can of coconut milk before opening it, as some of the water can separate from the coconut cream.  Also, if room temperature is below the mid-70's F, the coconut cream will harden a little, but putting the whole can in a bowl of warm water before opening it, and then shaking it will mix the cream back up.

Mike Geary is a Certified Nutrition Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer specializing in body fat reduction strategies and functional strength and power training. I hold a Bachelors of Science degree from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. Mike is the author of Truth About Six-Pack Abs and The Fat Burning Kitchen

Let Me Help You Raise Money For Your Charity

Tired of the same old boring fundraisers? I can help! 

I run an indoor charity boot camp every Saturday morning at 9:00 A.M.  All you need to do is reserve a date and start inviting people. 



The workouts last approximately 45 minutes and include a warmup and a cooldown. 

Workouts will involve primarily body weight and dumbbell exercises. All fitness levels are invited. Anyone, 12 and over, is welcome to participate.  (Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.)

Exercises will be adapted or substituted, as necessary, so those who aren’t in great shape shouldn’t be afraid to join in.   

Each participant can pay a set amount and/or you can encourage them get sponsors. 100% of the money donated or raised by your participants goes to your charity. I will be donating my time, the equipment and the facility- there is absolutely no charge to you or the organization.

Hang out with friends, have some fun, get some exercise and raise money for a worthy cause.  What better way to spend 45 minutes on a Saturday morning?

Call me today at (717) 509-7777 for all the details and to reserve your date.

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Update On Me Vs. Facebook

Actually, the title should probably be Me Vs. Totally Nonsensical and Only Partially Enforced Rules.

In my last blog post, which you can read all about here . I told you that Facebook had rejected my boot camp ad. Yesterday, while I was responding to someone on that very topic, I noticed an ad for the TRX (along with another featuring a shirtless dude offering personal training.

This was the photo TRX used.

 
(This is a great piece of equipment, BTW.)



I have no issues with their picture but can anyone explain to me how that photo, along with one featuring a guy with no shirt at all, was acceptable while the one that I used was not?

This is the scandalous shot I submitted. ====>

Facebook Promotes Violence And Death But Rejects Ad For Healthy Living

I recently tried to place an ad on Facebook for my No Pink Dumbbells Fitness Boot Camp. It was rejected with this explanation...

Images that are overly explicit or provocative, or that reveal too much skin, are not permitted. Images that may either degrade or idealize any health condition or body type are also not allowed.

You read that right. The company that promotes a game called "Mafia Wars", where the object is to fight, steal, kill, and grow your criminal empire objects to my ad promoting fitness. Of course, if more people were out being active, they'd have less time to spend sitting on their butts posting on Facebook or playing Farmville or Mafia Wars.

This is the photo I used in the rejected ad.  ====>

Let me just acknowledge that Facebook has every right to refuse to publish ads for any idiotic reason they choose but I have every right to take to my blog and point out how stupid their policy is.

Because they didn't specify, I don't know if my sin was showing too much skin or idealizing a health condition. Either one is ridiculous.

Unless Facebook thinks we're in a time warp and wants to reinstate the Barbara Eden / No Belly Buttons! rule, how is that photo showing "too much skin?"  If Facebook has a problem with navels they need to take it up with Cher; she pretty much single handedly destroyed the belly button ban back in the early 70's.

Seriously, you can see as much or more skin in any underwear ad in your Sunday newspaper and definitely more skin on any public beach.

I do plead guilty to "idealizing any health condition."

I believe that health is preferable to illness. I believe that a strong body is preferable to a weak one. I believe (and research backs me up) that being physically active improves your mental, emotional and physical health in tons of ways and is preferable to being inactive. I believe that having the energy and the fitness level to be able to enjoy a variety of activities as I age is preferable to slouching in front of the TV or sitting on the sidelines.

Our country is drowning in health care costs. Much of those costs come from conditions that are preventable with good nutrition, not smoking and regular exercise. In fact, the top 5 preventable causes of death in this country are...

• Smoking 
• High blood pressure
• Overweight / obesity
• Inadequate physical activity / Inactivity 
• High blood sugar 

All of them can be eliminated or improved through a healthy lifestyle. By trying to pretend that all health is equal, Facebook does its users a disservice and while it prohibits me from "idealizing any health condition", people are dying.

But at least they won't get their feelings hurt by seeing the fit midsection of a faceless women.