I don’t know about you, but I don’t want anyone talking to me when I’m lifting heavy. I don’t want anyone standing in front of me when I’m lifting heavy. Yet, there is always that one guy who can’t stop getting in your way. He always feels the need to talk to you right in the middle of a big lift.
Archive | August, 2011
Numbers Don’t Lie – Focus on Performance. Not the Mirror or the Scale
I can’t tell you how many times I hear or read; “I want his/her body!” or “How do I get that body?”. The focus is entirely on their physical appearance and they just want to hear how to achieve that “look“. Well, I have a shocking revelation for you. You don’t get that body by focusing on how you look or how much you weigh. That body is the byproduct of focusing on something else entirely: Your Performance. Take a look at the people below and tell me what they all have in common.
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Head-to-Toe Gear for NorCal Tough Mudder Event
Well, I have been testing and re-testing a lot of gear that I want to use to run in the NorCal Tough Mudder. I’ve been quite happy with my Under Armour ColdGear top and leggings (compression fit). I’ve tested it running in cold weather and even jumped into a cold river to see how warm it would keep me after I had been fully submerged. It works! I didn’t feel very cold and I warmed up quickly as I started running again. Do I look a bit silly wearing leggings? Yep. Do I care? Nope. I have seen guys wearing much crazier stuff at the Tough Mudder (think loincloths and thongs), so I don’t think my appearance is going to matter much and I want to be warm in that icy water.
Anger, Arousal, Testosterone & Weightlifting
Wow, I just read a great article on this topic, but it was so NSFW that I may not reshare it. The basic premise is sound and I’ve read other supporting research on the topic. Basically, there are a number of things that elevate testosterone production, help you lift heavier, feel less pain, and grow more muscle (for both men AND women). The simple act of squeezing the barbell really, really hard; angry music; cursing; sexual imagery; violent imagery; etc. all seem to have an effect.
Testing the Merrell Trail Glove Barefoot Shoe for Tough Mudder
So, if you’ve read my Tough Mudder training posts before, you know that I have been wearing the Vibram (VFF) FiveFingers Treksport shoes for my trail running. I still love my VFF and now I actually have 3 different pairs (KSO, Trek, Treksport). I wear VFF every day. But, there has been a nagging issue for my more aggressive uphill trail running: My smaller toes keep sliding out of the VFF toe pockets when I sprint uphill. Don’t tell me that I need a smaller size, because I can’t go any smaller. My big toe is already uncomfortably scrunched a bit. I know that I could go one size even smaller and then use a heat gun to heat and stretch the big toe. But, I already did that with this pair and I think it would probably destroy an even smaller pair. There is only so much you can stretch that toe!
It’s Never Too Late to Start Exercising
It is never too late to start working out and taking care of yourself. The American Senior Fitness Association published some interesting findings from research conducted by a cardiologist named Paul Bhella of the JPS Health Network. The key takeaway was that older adults who exercised regularly were able to maintain their “youthful” hearts and even grow stronger hearts if they exercised even more. As with what I’ve shared in past posts, consistency and intensity of exercise make a huge difference.
Free Standard Shipping for Under Armour on Orders of $75 or More!
Just wanted to share this great deal going on at Under Armour. I love UA gear and have lots of their heat gear T-shirts and shorts, compression shorts, and some cold gear compression clothing as well (which I will be using for the upcoming NorCal Tough Mudder event). Right now you can get Free Standard Shipping on Orders of $75 or More with code YKEQ75 at Under Armour online. Just click that link to check it out.