Sport Fitness & Physique

Archive for February, 2010

Time to get serious now. Time to get real!

Only 6 more weeks until Spring -or Spring Break -or Spring Weather -or Warmer Temperatures….or whatever it is that motivates you to get busy, get lean and get healthy for the upcoming warm weather.

6 more weeks…

6 Weeks to Fitness

So what are  you going to do?

What are you prepared to do?

Are you going to starve yourself -deprive  yourself -limit your portions or take it to the extreme?

Are you planning to fast, to restrict, to limit the good and healthy foods your body needs?

It doesn’t have to go that way you know…

You do not have to starve, to sacrifice, to limit or to control what you eat.

We can do better….we can do more.

Give us an opportunity to show you how easy this can be.

Boating -Jet-skiing -Barbequing -Hanging out and Socializing….

Wouldn’t  you like to wear short sleeves -show of your arms? -Show some leg?’

Wouldn’t you like to wear shorts, skirts, anything light, cool and fitting for the season?

Well if so…you’ve got some work to do, right?

Let me help you re-balance your life -re-balance your body and replace your anxiety with a calm and refreshing feeling of control.

Contact me now…

Allow me to give you the life  you deserve.

Be well, be balanced and be blessed!

To Your Good Health!

Paul D'Arcy NSCA, CPT, Poliquin certified BioSignature Practitioner

“Athletes who want to decrease body fat and improve body composition should pay particular attention to dietary carbohydrate intake.”

Meat and Vegetables -All an Athlete needs for Nutritional Success!

This is the advice of Dr. Jeff Volek, Dr. Erin E. Quann and Dr. Cassandra Forsythe  -all registered dietitians from the University of Connecticut as published in the February 2010 issue of the Strength and Conditioning Journal (Vol 32; No 1).

In their comprehensive study, the researchers were searching for a dietary strategy that allowed athletes to improve their body composition -defined as a greater muscle tissue to body fat ratio -while improving their physical strength and mental performance.

The researchers discovered that the old axiom “A calorie is a calorie” was wildly false. That in fact, the sources of dietary calories had significant impact on both body composition and physical performance -even while maintaining the same caloric intake.

The researchers concluded that “…diets lower in carbohydrate were associated with greater fat loss and diets higher in protein resulted in better preservation of lean body mass (muscle tissue) during weight loss. Furthermore, these effects were independent of energy intake (calories eaten) and participation in exercise (caloric expenditure).”

So what constitutes a “low carbohydrate diet?”

Well, generally speaking consuming only lean meats, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables is close enough.

By eliminating dairy, grains, legumes (beans, peas, peanuts) and anything made with flour -you will have essentially established a very healthy, low carbohydrate diet.  There is really not much need to track specifics.  The ‘hunter-gatherer’ approach is one of the very best strategies towards a healthy body composition and improved physical performance.

For many folks…this seems extreme. But really, once you adapt to this strategy you will find that you have more energy, you sleep better and your clothes will begin to fit better too…

Just take a look at some of our satisfied customer’s testimonials here:

All of these folks have benefited from this exact same dietary strategy. We service powerlifters, bodybuilders, housekeepers, homemakers, construction workers, truck drivers and anyone else who desires better health, improved body composition, a slimmer waistline and improved self-esteem.

Just give us the opportunity to improve your health.

Your FREE BioSignature Assessment is easy to complete and requires No Commitment.

Give us the opportunity to improve your health, wellness and lifestyle.

I look forward to speaking with you soon!

To Your Good Health!

Oh, take the BioSignature Fitness Assessment Survey Here!

If you’ve been working to improve your physical fitness for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that the very best training program for you…..is the one that you are not currently doing!

Fit and Flexible -Safe and Sane

What I mean by that is, far too often we get stuck in a rut -doing the same things over and over -trying harder and harder to improve while actually getting very poor results in the process.
That’s no fun ….and it can be downright dangerous too!

So, why would we continue to repeat the same workouts over and over when they are obviously not doing what we want and could potentially lead to injury?

Great question
-But I don’t know the answer, I’m afraid.

Personally, I think we tend to gravitate towards activities that we like -activities that are familiar and activities that are comfortable or that we believe are good for us (whether they actually are or not).

And don’t think that I’m ‘pointing fingers’ here either

….I am guilty of this myself  -believe me!
I have done more damage to my body by performing exercises that I liked -but that were just not applicable to me or exercises that I lacked the flexibility to perform!

Not very bright, was it?

The reason I bring this up is to share a very simple idea with you that has changed the way I train myself and my clients.

Body-weight training!

Learning to control your own body-weight and move our bodies through space is challenging and provides practical strength and fitness.

This is basic strength 101.

In fact, we should really work on developing the strength to control your own body-weight before we ever begin to externally load your body with weights or machines.  It just makes more sense and it’s much, much safer.

Towards this end, I have been experimenting with a really neat training system called the TRX Suspension System.

Check out this video from the Biggest Loser television show:

Now how cool was that?
Pretty nifty, right?

Here’s another, more advanced video:

How cool would it be to be as fit and flexible as a surfer?

Pretty cool right?
Well, you can do that with the TRX Suspension Trainer
It is totally possible and completely fun!

The benefit I appreciate most about the TRX, is that I am completely in control of my client’s comfort level.  I can begin at a very safe and effective level of resistance -even if the client lacks sufficient strength to support their own body-weight!  -The TRX actually assists the client to move their own body-weight through space until they gain the strength necessary to progress to more challenging exercises.

This system is really great!

The TRX Suspension Training System is safe, adjustable, exciting and it’s fun!

Give body-weight training a try. Challenge yourself with some yoga -try the old fashioned Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge of pushups, pullups, situps, shuttle run and the 50 yard dash….and if all that is still out of your reach…give the TRX Suspension Training System a try.

I think you’ll love it!

To your Good Health!

Paul D'Arcy NSCA, CPT, Poliquin certified BioSignature Practitioner

Fascinating new ideas in an arena of wonder, doubt, fear and confusion….

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/761

Have you ever shopped for some new shoes, a particular new outfit, a piece of furniture or a new vehicle?

Let’s say a fancy new Volkswagen Beetle has caught your attention… (I don’t know why you like it -but hey, it’s your desire…not mine)

You saw one, you liked it and now you want one -Good for you!

Nice Ride!

But then have you noticed what happens next…?

What used to be a rare occurrence (spotting a VW Beetle) is now an overwhelming reality

…They are EVERYWHERE!

…But are they really?

Are there really THAT many more VW Beetles than there were BEFORE you became interested in them???

No, not really…

You stumbled upon something and that ‘something’  spurred an interest in you. You initiated what’s called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in your brain and because your RAS has been engaged -you are now predisposed to notice whatever it is that your mind has now fixated upon -namely -crazy looking little cars with rounded corners and freakish features. -Now you see them everywhere!

We can use this very same brain functioning system to change our habits and our lives.

All we need do is focus upon that which we intensely desire….fixate upon it…and envision it as our reality.
Imagine living that life -the life that you desire

Forget your bad habits….in fact, forget them all together. They will do you no good here

Just let your Reticular Activating System (RAS) seek out and find everything you could ever possibly need to make your vision a reality!

I know it sounds absurd…..But I have seen this very same system succeed time after time ~in situation after situation….it really works!

Where I see most people fail, is sadly, within themselves.  Most people lack the self confidence to boldly stand up to their old habits and proclaim “No Thank You! – I choose not to participate in this any longer!”

This not a ‘one day fix’ -No not at all…

I don’t even expect my clients to make any notable, measurable progress for the first 4 weeks on this program (although most certainly do).

But the attitude adjustment that takes place in those 4 weeks….now that is priceless

So grab yourself some Attitude
-Make a substantial change….Decide what it is that you want to adjust in your life and fix your focus upon it…

We cannot achieve that which we do not believe….

Believe it!

Then achieve that which you believe….

To Your Good Health!

Paul D'Arcy NSCA, CPT, Poliquin certified BioSignature Practitioner