I've been up and at em' since just
after 5 AM this morning.
I love
getting up early and
getting work done before
there is a sound in the
house.
The mornings are my most productive times,
and countless
successful people say the
same thing, "wake up early."
There is an
inner voice in your head which
will tell you to sleep in, to do the
work
later, to do it next time, etc.
Those inner demons are always
trying to
hold you back.
You must fight back, and fight to never
allow
those voices to beat you.
I teach this to the athletes I train
as well.
When they get tired, I see some of them slow
down because
they are listening to their
inner demons telling them to
slow
down.
The truth is that your slight bit of physical
and
emotional discomfort will all be
over in a few short minutes, so
rather
than cower to the inner demon, fight
back and punch it in the
face.
I realized that yesterday, I didn't link you
directly to my
latest blog.
You will find the power
behind this lesson, so
check
it out on the blog
right here:
logo
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
How Cardio Kills - Wait, read the whole thing before you say - why are we doing this HIIT stuff then....
by Mike Sheridan T-Nation
Here's what you need to know...
• There are benefits to regular exercise, but as far as heart health and longevity go, marathoners may be no better off than the guy on the couch.
• Research has suggested that free radical damage from long and frequent cardio workouts is especially detrimental to cardiac and skeletal muscle.
• The long-term effects of chronically elevated cortisol such as you see in endurance athletes have nearly as detrimental an effect as oxidative stress with respect to disease, showing associations with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and in fact all causes of mortality.
• Many mistakenly blame food for putting our bodies into an acidic state, yet conveniently forget that their 2-hour run that same morning results in an acidic environment with a higher likelihood of causing damage.
• If you love running or endurance training, you might want to find a new hobby.
Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise daily continues to be the standard recommendation for improving overall health and longevity. This is why it's common for most to select running, cycling, swimming, or any other form of endurance training as their predominant form of exercise. It also appears to be standard practice to set a goal of completing a marathon or triathlon in order to stay motivated. If some cardiovascular exercise is good, then more must be better, right?
Wrong. Exercise becomes damaging when it's excessive. Unfortunately, when your method for getting fit is moderate-intensity cardiovascular training or steady-state endurance exercise, that excessive line is crossed more frequently than not. Don't get me wrong, there are benefits to regular exercise and daily movement, but as far as heart health goes, marathoners may be no better than the guy on the couch, and as far as longevity goes, they may be worse off.
Gunked Up Arteries
The human body is extremely adaptable, which means diminishing returns in progress are inevitable unless a unique or more challenging stimulus is repeatedly introduced. Those selecting running, cycling, or swimming as their method for "getting fit" must continuously go farther or train harder or more frequently in order to experience any benefit from exercise. Five miles last week becomes 8 miles this week, and quickly reaches 30-40miles/week for those with aspirations of completing a marathon or triathlon. As the endurance athlete seeks more miles and higher speeds they put additional stress on their body, which results in excessive free radical production, cortisol secretion, lactate accumulation, and inflammation.
Nearly every type of workout – aerobic or anaerobic, high-intensity or low-intensity, isometric or isokinetic – produces free radicals (or reactive oxygen species), although the amount generated, and whether there's corresponding oxidative damage, depends on the workout design and delivery (mode, intensity, duration). A model developed in 1992 by M.B. Reid suggests that free radicals are generated faster during strenuous exercise than any buffering agent can handle. Above the optimal threshold, antioxidants are outnumbered and harmful oxidative stress prevails. This leads to muscle dysfunction and muscle loss, along with damage to proteins, lipids, and even DNA.
Some argue that higher levels of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) from exercise are beneficial because they increase the body's internal production of antioxidants. However, science has demonstrated that there's a breakeven point where the accumulation of free radicals overburdens any antioxidant defense. Sadly, most that choose cardio as their method for staying healthy or getting fit consistently surpass this point.
The oxygen requirement during exercise is a determining factor in the number of free radicals generated. Consistent movement for greater than 45-60 seconds is predominantly aerobic, meaning oxygen is required to produce energy (ATP). Conversely, short and intermittent (or anaerobic) exercise does not use oxygen to produce energy. Not only does this suggest higher free radical production during aerobic training, but unlike the anaerobic energy system, the oxidative stress (or cell damage) takes place inside the mitochondria. Since mitochondria are the dominant producers of free radicals, skeletal muscle has one of the highest concentrations of mitochondria, and muscle represents the largest organ in the human body, this is a BIG problem.
The oxygen demands during aerobic exercise produce considerable damage within muscle cells that leads to eventual cell death. Essentially, the muscle cells are "oxidized," and once destroyed they unfortunately can't be replaced. Research from as early as 1987 has suggested that free radical damage from long and frequent cardio workouts is especially detrimental to cardiac and skeletal muscle. As Dr. James O'Keefe discusses, endurance training causes "structural cardiovascular changes" and "elevations of cardiac biomarkers" that appear to return to normal in the short term, but when taken on as a regular activity results in "patchy myocardial fibrosis... an increased susceptibility to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery calcification, diastolic dysfunction, and large-artery wall stiffening."
Dr. O'Keefe and other researchers have suggested that it's common to see extreme variations (5-fold) in atrial fibrillation when elite level endurance athletes are compared to non-runners, and other studies have found troubling medical anomalies such as:
• Impaired Cardiac Contractile Function
• Decline in Peak Systolic Tissue Velocity
• Cardio Myocyte Damage
• Myocardial Fibrosis
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Poor Left Ventricle Function
In April of 2014, The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association published research showing that "long-term male marathon runners may have
paradoxically increased coronary artery plaque volume." And in another study, the researchers compared a group of sedentary men to men that competed in at least one marathon annually for 25 years. Compared to the inactive group, the runners had nearly double the total plaque and calcified plaque volumes, and almost 1.5 times the non-calcified plaque volume.
Not surprisingly, the marathoners in the study from Missouri State had lower resting heart rates, BMI (Body Mass Index), and triglyceride levels than the sedentary group. The fact that "all looks good on the outside," is potentially the most frightening thing. This can be seen in the cardiovascular health of ultra-endurance athletes and cardio kings and queens who continuously put their bodies through a pounding. These guys and girls aren't just running farther than everyone else, they're running more consistently and faster.
The Cardio Dead Pool
Generally, many (including me) have idolized these individuals as we couldn't envision ourselves doing one marathon, let alone two in a row on a Saturday afternoon. However, as the evidence suggests, duration and intensity have a profound effect on free radical accumulation. Despite the natural increase in antioxidant production, the adjustment is short-lived and serious damage ensues over time. This resulting heart damage may have played a part in the early (or near) death of several famous ultra-endurance and marathon runners:
Micah True (Caballo Blanco) One of the ultra runners featured in the popular book, Born to Run, died in 2012 at 58 years old of Phidippides cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart from chronic excessive endurance exercise.
Alberto Salazer Won three New York City Marathons and one Boston Marathon between 1980 and 1982 but had a near fatal heart attack at 49 years of age.
Jim Fixx The man credited for popularizing jogging and author of the best-selling book, The Complete Book of Running, died of a heart attack at 52.
One study, from the European Heart Journal, looked at marathon runners, triathletes, alpine cyclists, and ultra triathletes who competed in races lasting 3, 5, 8, and 11 hours respectively. Dysfunction in the right ventricle after the race was least in the marathon runners (3 hours) and highest in the ultra triathletes (11 hours). Although it's been suggested that sudden death during marathon training only occurs in 1 in 100,000 people, the majority of those fatalities are from a cardiovascular event. As Dr. O'Keefe writes:
"If we went out for a run right now and you ran hard... by 60 minutes something starts happening... the free radicals blossom, and it starts burning the heart. It starts searing and inflaming the insides of your coronary arteries."
If that weren't bad enough, excessive free radical accumulation and resulting oxidative damage increases your risk of degenerative disease and accelerates aging. Anyone with a goal of living a long and disease-free life should avoid instances that promote excess free radical production, as the damage that ensues is at the root of many chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and many more.
Telomeres Shorter Than Tom Cruise
Although the free radical theory of aging is still considered a hypothesis, it's been proven that DNA damage to mitochondria increases our disease risk. Telomeres are found at the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA and the length of these tiny caps can determine our rate of aging. One analysis of skeletal muscle from a 90-year-old man revealed that only 5% of his mitochondrial DNA was full length, while that of a 5-year-old boy was almost completely intact. Our telomeres shorten during normal cell division, but if they get too short, chromosomes get damaged, cells stop dividing, and our ability to repair tissue is inhibited.
Numerous studies have found that short telomeres are associated with older cells and an increased risk of mortality and disease, and longer telomeres are associated with younger cells and a higher resistance to disease. The exact cause of telomere shortening is still up for debate, but the leading hypothesis points to chronic stress. The researchers believe that excess exposure to stress overwhelms anti-oxidant protection, resulting in cell damage – specifically to DNA and the telomeric region. Not only does oxidative stress cause DNA damage, but it appears to disrupt the enzyme responsible for telomere elongation (telomerase), meaning any chance of future repair and growth is inhibited.
Enough Cortisol to Kill a Moose
Another harmful byproduct generated during aerobic exercise is cortisol. Similar to free radical accumulation, its concentration is determined by intensity and duration. When our bodies are under stress, cortisol helps to increase the concentration of glucose in our blood so there's readily-available energy for our muscles to utilize. Cortisol secretion is a natural response to stress and it's a good thing when released infrequently and for short periods as it helps the body deal with the threat to homeostasis. However, when we're exposed to chronic and consistently elevated cortisol for extended periods of time, we experience long-term consequences.
Unfortunately, prolonged endurance training causes the body to release an abundant amount of cortisol. Research from 1976 in The Journal of Applied Physiology showed no increase in cortisol secretion after 10 minutes (at 75% intensity), but cortisol doubled after 30 minutes. Another study, this one from 2011, analyzed the cortisol levels in 304 amateur endurance athletes and the average additional secretion above the control (in white in the graph below), was 42%!
Athletes who ran more kilometers per week, trained for more hours, or took part in more competitions over the year exhibited higher hair cortisol levels.
Intensity seems to play just as important a role, as 80% exercise intensity for 1 hour produces high cortisol levels while exercise at 40% intensity for 1 hour actually lowers it. With an activity like walking, cortisol is removed faster than it can be secreted, yet, as individuals looking to get fit, we're consistently told to train harder, run farther, and burn more calories.
Likewise, when cortisol is elevated, Testosterone is inhibited, meaning that consistently elevated cortisol lowers Testosterone. Cortisol increases steadily throughout a workout, while Testosterone levels peak at 20-30 minutes. That means the longer the exercise bout, the more unfavorable the Testosterone-to-Cortisol ratio (T:C). A better T:C ratio promotes muscle growth and tissue repair, while a higher proportion of cortisol leads to muscle and tissue loss.
In a nutshell, cortisol burns muscle (catabolic) and Testosterone builds muscle (anabolic), and unfortunately the increases in cortisol from endurance training leads to the former. Other than muscle loss, chronically elevated cortisol leads to injuries, sickness, and inflammation in the brain, reproductive system, intestinal tract, and heart. The elevated inflammatory markers experienced after aerobic training are much higher than those tested after alternative forms of exercise. The long-term effects of chronically elevated cortisol have nearly as detrimental an effect as oxidative stress with respect to disease, showing associations with the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and in fact all causes of mortality.
Blood so Acidic it Can Clean Grease Off an Engine Block
Lactic acid is another problem associated with endurance training. Large amounts of it are produced during exercise that's beyond a certain intensity or duration, which increases oxygen and acidity (lowers pH) inside and outside muscle cells. This accumulation of lactate depends on a balance between production by the working muscles and removal by the liver and other tissues. If exercise is continuous, lactate production persists while removal declines.
Lactic acid is of relevance to health and longevity because it lowers pH. The act of simply running for a few minutes drops our normal pH of 7.4 to 7.0. Continuing or repeating the same activity can lower it to 6.8, which is considered the lowest tolerable, survival pH. Many mistakenly blame food for putting our bodies into an acidic state, yet conveniently forget that their 2-hour run that same morning results in an acidic environment with a higher likelihood of causing damage.
To handle an acidic meal, the kidneys regulate pH by excreting more or less bicarbonate. This buffering system (to bring pH up) is hampered during exercise as it can take several hours to initiate. Unlike acidic food, which only affects the pH in urine, exercise lowers pH in extracellular fluid and blood. This lactate build-up not only adds to the stress put on our cells, but arterial pH disturbance alone has been associated with life-threatening rhythmic disturbances of the heart. As written in 2002 in The Journal of Internal Medicine:
"Although acids and bases are present in foods, the major threat to bodily fluid pH is acids formed in the metabolic processes."
Alternative Choices?
If you're looking to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's and dementia, heart disease, and diabetes, daily low-intensity movement will cut your risk in half without increasing stress (walking, in fact, reduces stress) or promoting oxidation. Just 30 minutes of walking 5 times per week has been shown to reduce death risk by 50%!
If performance is your goal, you're better off doing High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Short sprint intervals produced equal aerobic improvements (VO2 max, lactate threshold, aerobic power) and better fat loss when compared to moderate intensity jogging, and that was with 1/18th the time commitment!
If you're in search of a six-pack, your time is better spent lifting weights and eating right. When you work out to build muscle (not burn calories), you burn more energy throughout the day. Any new muscle needs energy just to exist, which means an increase in the number of calories burned, even while sedentary. Unlike resistance exercise, aerobic training does not produce significant positive changes in muscle size or strength, only producing favorable increases in endurance capacity. A strong, muscular physique is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but research suggests that strength and muscle mass are the two most important biomarkers for health and longevity.
And lastly, if you love running... I suggest finding a new hobby. I love eating chocolate and drinking wine, but that doesn't mean I'm consuming them 5 times a week for 3 hours at a time. In all seriousness, anything you love about running (endorphins, alone time, camaraderie, competition) can be experienced elsewhere, while potentially increasing your lifespan instead of knowingly shortening it.
Source: http://www.t-nation.com/training/cardio-kills
Here's what you need to know...
• There are benefits to regular exercise, but as far as heart health and longevity go, marathoners may be no better off than the guy on the couch.
• Research has suggested that free radical damage from long and frequent cardio workouts is especially detrimental to cardiac and skeletal muscle.
• The long-term effects of chronically elevated cortisol such as you see in endurance athletes have nearly as detrimental an effect as oxidative stress with respect to disease, showing associations with metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and in fact all causes of mortality.
• Many mistakenly blame food for putting our bodies into an acidic state, yet conveniently forget that their 2-hour run that same morning results in an acidic environment with a higher likelihood of causing damage.
• If you love running or endurance training, you might want to find a new hobby.
Getting at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise daily continues to be the standard recommendation for improving overall health and longevity. This is why it's common for most to select running, cycling, swimming, or any other form of endurance training as their predominant form of exercise. It also appears to be standard practice to set a goal of completing a marathon or triathlon in order to stay motivated. If some cardiovascular exercise is good, then more must be better, right?
Wrong. Exercise becomes damaging when it's excessive. Unfortunately, when your method for getting fit is moderate-intensity cardiovascular training or steady-state endurance exercise, that excessive line is crossed more frequently than not. Don't get me wrong, there are benefits to regular exercise and daily movement, but as far as heart health goes, marathoners may be no better than the guy on the couch, and as far as longevity goes, they may be worse off.
Gunked Up Arteries
The human body is extremely adaptable, which means diminishing returns in progress are inevitable unless a unique or more challenging stimulus is repeatedly introduced. Those selecting running, cycling, or swimming as their method for "getting fit" must continuously go farther or train harder or more frequently in order to experience any benefit from exercise. Five miles last week becomes 8 miles this week, and quickly reaches 30-40miles/week for those with aspirations of completing a marathon or triathlon. As the endurance athlete seeks more miles and higher speeds they put additional stress on their body, which results in excessive free radical production, cortisol secretion, lactate accumulation, and inflammation.
Nearly every type of workout – aerobic or anaerobic, high-intensity or low-intensity, isometric or isokinetic – produces free radicals (or reactive oxygen species), although the amount generated, and whether there's corresponding oxidative damage, depends on the workout design and delivery (mode, intensity, duration). A model developed in 1992 by M.B. Reid suggests that free radicals are generated faster during strenuous exercise than any buffering agent can handle. Above the optimal threshold, antioxidants are outnumbered and harmful oxidative stress prevails. This leads to muscle dysfunction and muscle loss, along with damage to proteins, lipids, and even DNA.
Some argue that higher levels of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) from exercise are beneficial because they increase the body's internal production of antioxidants. However, science has demonstrated that there's a breakeven point where the accumulation of free radicals overburdens any antioxidant defense. Sadly, most that choose cardio as their method for staying healthy or getting fit consistently surpass this point.
The oxygen requirement during exercise is a determining factor in the number of free radicals generated. Consistent movement for greater than 45-60 seconds is predominantly aerobic, meaning oxygen is required to produce energy (ATP). Conversely, short and intermittent (or anaerobic) exercise does not use oxygen to produce energy. Not only does this suggest higher free radical production during aerobic training, but unlike the anaerobic energy system, the oxidative stress (or cell damage) takes place inside the mitochondria. Since mitochondria are the dominant producers of free radicals, skeletal muscle has one of the highest concentrations of mitochondria, and muscle represents the largest organ in the human body, this is a BIG problem.
The oxygen demands during aerobic exercise produce considerable damage within muscle cells that leads to eventual cell death. Essentially, the muscle cells are "oxidized," and once destroyed they unfortunately can't be replaced. Research from as early as 1987 has suggested that free radical damage from long and frequent cardio workouts is especially detrimental to cardiac and skeletal muscle. As Dr. James O'Keefe discusses, endurance training causes "structural cardiovascular changes" and "elevations of cardiac biomarkers" that appear to return to normal in the short term, but when taken on as a regular activity results in "patchy myocardial fibrosis... an increased susceptibility to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery calcification, diastolic dysfunction, and large-artery wall stiffening."
Dr. O'Keefe and other researchers have suggested that it's common to see extreme variations (5-fold) in atrial fibrillation when elite level endurance athletes are compared to non-runners, and other studies have found troubling medical anomalies such as:
• Impaired Cardiac Contractile Function
• Decline in Peak Systolic Tissue Velocity
• Cardio Myocyte Damage
• Myocardial Fibrosis
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Poor Left Ventricle Function
In April of 2014, The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association published research showing that "long-term male marathon runners may have
paradoxically increased coronary artery plaque volume." And in another study, the researchers compared a group of sedentary men to men that competed in at least one marathon annually for 25 years. Compared to the inactive group, the runners had nearly double the total plaque and calcified plaque volumes, and almost 1.5 times the non-calcified plaque volume.
Not surprisingly, the marathoners in the study from Missouri State had lower resting heart rates, BMI (Body Mass Index), and triglyceride levels than the sedentary group. The fact that "all looks good on the outside," is potentially the most frightening thing. This can be seen in the cardiovascular health of ultra-endurance athletes and cardio kings and queens who continuously put their bodies through a pounding. These guys and girls aren't just running farther than everyone else, they're running more consistently and faster.
The Cardio Dead Pool
Generally, many (including me) have idolized these individuals as we couldn't envision ourselves doing one marathon, let alone two in a row on a Saturday afternoon. However, as the evidence suggests, duration and intensity have a profound effect on free radical accumulation. Despite the natural increase in antioxidant production, the adjustment is short-lived and serious damage ensues over time. This resulting heart damage may have played a part in the early (or near) death of several famous ultra-endurance and marathon runners:
Micah True (Caballo Blanco) One of the ultra runners featured in the popular book, Born to Run, died in 2012 at 58 years old of Phidippides cardiomyopathy – an enlarged heart from chronic excessive endurance exercise.
Alberto Salazer Won three New York City Marathons and one Boston Marathon between 1980 and 1982 but had a near fatal heart attack at 49 years of age.
Jim Fixx The man credited for popularizing jogging and author of the best-selling book, The Complete Book of Running, died of a heart attack at 52.
One study, from the European Heart Journal, looked at marathon runners, triathletes, alpine cyclists, and ultra triathletes who competed in races lasting 3, 5, 8, and 11 hours respectively. Dysfunction in the right ventricle after the race was least in the marathon runners (3 hours) and highest in the ultra triathletes (11 hours). Although it's been suggested that sudden death during marathon training only occurs in 1 in 100,000 people, the majority of those fatalities are from a cardiovascular event. As Dr. O'Keefe writes:
"If we went out for a run right now and you ran hard... by 60 minutes something starts happening... the free radicals blossom, and it starts burning the heart. It starts searing and inflaming the insides of your coronary arteries."
If that weren't bad enough, excessive free radical accumulation and resulting oxidative damage increases your risk of degenerative disease and accelerates aging. Anyone with a goal of living a long and disease-free life should avoid instances that promote excess free radical production, as the damage that ensues is at the root of many chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and many more.
Telomeres Shorter Than Tom Cruise
Although the free radical theory of aging is still considered a hypothesis, it's been proven that DNA damage to mitochondria increases our disease risk. Telomeres are found at the ends of chromosomes that protect DNA and the length of these tiny caps can determine our rate of aging. One analysis of skeletal muscle from a 90-year-old man revealed that only 5% of his mitochondrial DNA was full length, while that of a 5-year-old boy was almost completely intact. Our telomeres shorten during normal cell division, but if they get too short, chromosomes get damaged, cells stop dividing, and our ability to repair tissue is inhibited.
Numerous studies have found that short telomeres are associated with older cells and an increased risk of mortality and disease, and longer telomeres are associated with younger cells and a higher resistance to disease. The exact cause of telomere shortening is still up for debate, but the leading hypothesis points to chronic stress. The researchers believe that excess exposure to stress overwhelms anti-oxidant protection, resulting in cell damage – specifically to DNA and the telomeric region. Not only does oxidative stress cause DNA damage, but it appears to disrupt the enzyme responsible for telomere elongation (telomerase), meaning any chance of future repair and growth is inhibited.
Enough Cortisol to Kill a Moose
Another harmful byproduct generated during aerobic exercise is cortisol. Similar to free radical accumulation, its concentration is determined by intensity and duration. When our bodies are under stress, cortisol helps to increase the concentration of glucose in our blood so there's readily-available energy for our muscles to utilize. Cortisol secretion is a natural response to stress and it's a good thing when released infrequently and for short periods as it helps the body deal with the threat to homeostasis. However, when we're exposed to chronic and consistently elevated cortisol for extended periods of time, we experience long-term consequences.
Unfortunately, prolonged endurance training causes the body to release an abundant amount of cortisol. Research from 1976 in The Journal of Applied Physiology showed no increase in cortisol secretion after 10 minutes (at 75% intensity), but cortisol doubled after 30 minutes. Another study, this one from 2011, analyzed the cortisol levels in 304 amateur endurance athletes and the average additional secretion above the control (in white in the graph below), was 42%!
Athletes who ran more kilometers per week, trained for more hours, or took part in more competitions over the year exhibited higher hair cortisol levels.
Intensity seems to play just as important a role, as 80% exercise intensity for 1 hour produces high cortisol levels while exercise at 40% intensity for 1 hour actually lowers it. With an activity like walking, cortisol is removed faster than it can be secreted, yet, as individuals looking to get fit, we're consistently told to train harder, run farther, and burn more calories.
Likewise, when cortisol is elevated, Testosterone is inhibited, meaning that consistently elevated cortisol lowers Testosterone. Cortisol increases steadily throughout a workout, while Testosterone levels peak at 20-30 minutes. That means the longer the exercise bout, the more unfavorable the Testosterone-to-Cortisol ratio (T:C). A better T:C ratio promotes muscle growth and tissue repair, while a higher proportion of cortisol leads to muscle and tissue loss.
In a nutshell, cortisol burns muscle (catabolic) and Testosterone builds muscle (anabolic), and unfortunately the increases in cortisol from endurance training leads to the former. Other than muscle loss, chronically elevated cortisol leads to injuries, sickness, and inflammation in the brain, reproductive system, intestinal tract, and heart. The elevated inflammatory markers experienced after aerobic training are much higher than those tested after alternative forms of exercise. The long-term effects of chronically elevated cortisol have nearly as detrimental an effect as oxidative stress with respect to disease, showing associations with the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and in fact all causes of mortality.
Blood so Acidic it Can Clean Grease Off an Engine Block
Lactic acid is another problem associated with endurance training. Large amounts of it are produced during exercise that's beyond a certain intensity or duration, which increases oxygen and acidity (lowers pH) inside and outside muscle cells. This accumulation of lactate depends on a balance between production by the working muscles and removal by the liver and other tissues. If exercise is continuous, lactate production persists while removal declines.
Lactic acid is of relevance to health and longevity because it lowers pH. The act of simply running for a few minutes drops our normal pH of 7.4 to 7.0. Continuing or repeating the same activity can lower it to 6.8, which is considered the lowest tolerable, survival pH. Many mistakenly blame food for putting our bodies into an acidic state, yet conveniently forget that their 2-hour run that same morning results in an acidic environment with a higher likelihood of causing damage.
To handle an acidic meal, the kidneys regulate pH by excreting more or less bicarbonate. This buffering system (to bring pH up) is hampered during exercise as it can take several hours to initiate. Unlike acidic food, which only affects the pH in urine, exercise lowers pH in extracellular fluid and blood. This lactate build-up not only adds to the stress put on our cells, but arterial pH disturbance alone has been associated with life-threatening rhythmic disturbances of the heart. As written in 2002 in The Journal of Internal Medicine:
"Although acids and bases are present in foods, the major threat to bodily fluid pH is acids formed in the metabolic processes."
Alternative Choices?
If you're looking to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's and dementia, heart disease, and diabetes, daily low-intensity movement will cut your risk in half without increasing stress (walking, in fact, reduces stress) or promoting oxidation. Just 30 minutes of walking 5 times per week has been shown to reduce death risk by 50%!
If performance is your goal, you're better off doing High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Short sprint intervals produced equal aerobic improvements (VO2 max, lactate threshold, aerobic power) and better fat loss when compared to moderate intensity jogging, and that was with 1/18th the time commitment!
If you're in search of a six-pack, your time is better spent lifting weights and eating right. When you work out to build muscle (not burn calories), you burn more energy throughout the day. Any new muscle needs energy just to exist, which means an increase in the number of calories burned, even while sedentary. Unlike resistance exercise, aerobic training does not produce significant positive changes in muscle size or strength, only producing favorable increases in endurance capacity. A strong, muscular physique is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but research suggests that strength and muscle mass are the two most important biomarkers for health and longevity.
And lastly, if you love running... I suggest finding a new hobby. I love eating chocolate and drinking wine, but that doesn't mean I'm consuming them 5 times a week for 3 hours at a time. In all seriousness, anything you love about running (endorphins, alone time, camaraderie, competition) can be experienced elsewhere, while potentially increasing your lifespan instead of knowingly shortening it.
Source: http://www.t-nation.com/training/cardio-kills
Wedenesday 2, July 2014
Grab your jump rope!!!
Warm up - full body
10x
25 double unders
100 yard/meter SPRINTS
walk/jog back to start and GO!
Heart rate should be pumping on this one!
Warm up - full body
10x
25 double unders
100 yard/meter SPRINTS
walk/jog back to start and GO!
Heart rate should be pumping on this one!
Tuesday 1, July 2014
This one will be a few minutes, and you need to set a good goal pace for HIGH intensity, and a consistent pace for your moderate or recovery intensity.
5 min warm up
then
7 rounds or sets of
1 minute HIGH intensity Sprint, airdyne, row - your choice
2 minute moderate/recovery
5 min cool down
5 min warm up
then
7 rounds or sets of
1 minute HIGH intensity Sprint, airdyne, row - your choice
2 minute moderate/recovery
5 min cool down
Monday 30, June 2014
It is that time of year when it is getting HOT HOT HOT outside and we need a little more hydration to get through our day!!!
Warm up - nice full body
10-20-30
Burpees
Inch worms
V-ups
Mountain climbers
Sprint 30 seconds after each circuit
Rest for 2-3 minutes and complete
4x100yard SPRINTS
Warm up - nice full body
10-20-30
Burpees
Inch worms
V-ups
Mountain climbers
Sprint 30 seconds after each circuit
Rest for 2-3 minutes and complete
4x100yard SPRINTS
Friday, June 27, 2014
Macro #3 - FATS
Learning About Fats
1 gram of fat is equal to 9 calories
WHY DO WE NEED FAT?
Although fats have received a bad reputation for causing weight gain, some fat is essential for survival. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the USDA 20% - 35% of calories should come from fat. We need this amount of fat for:
The misconception about fat is that it is always bad for you. In fact, fat is essential for maintaining a healthy body.
The trick is to eat more of the good fats and less of the bad fats. Saturated and trans fats should be avoided while increases levels of unsaturated and the essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 and omega 6, can be good for you. Replacing sweets and high fat meats with foods such as nuts, avocados, and olive oil will help shift the balance away from unhealthy towards those fats that are useful to the body.
Fat has many roles in the human body. One of fats main functions is protection. This includes insulation to keep body temperature and cushioning to protect body organs. It also promotes growth and development, as well as maintaining cell membranes. Fat, in addition, plays a vital role in the digestion of vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble vitamins, meaning they need fat in order to be absorbed into the body.
1 gram of fat is equal to 9 calories
WHY DO WE NEED FAT?
Although fats have received a bad reputation for causing weight gain, some fat is essential for survival. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes published by the USDA 20% - 35% of calories should come from fat. We need this amount of fat for:
- Normal growth and development
- Energy (fat is the most concentrated source of energy)
- Absorbing certain vitamins ( like vitamins A, D, E, K, and carotenoids)
- Providing cushioning for the organs
- Maintaining cell membranes
- Providing taste, consistency, and stability to foods
The misconception about fat is that it is always bad for you. In fact, fat is essential for maintaining a healthy body.
The trick is to eat more of the good fats and less of the bad fats. Saturated and trans fats should be avoided while increases levels of unsaturated and the essential fatty acids, such as omega 3 and omega 6, can be good for you. Replacing sweets and high fat meats with foods such as nuts, avocados, and olive oil will help shift the balance away from unhealthy towards those fats that are useful to the body.
Fat has many roles in the human body. One of fats main functions is protection. This includes insulation to keep body temperature and cushioning to protect body organs. It also promotes growth and development, as well as maintaining cell membranes. Fat, in addition, plays a vital role in the digestion of vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble vitamins, meaning they need fat in order to be absorbed into the body.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Macro #2 - Carbohydrates
Learning about Carbs
Just like Proteins - Carbohydrates are also 4 grams per calorie
Carbs provide your body with the fuel it needs for physical activity and organ function - so any diet that gives a blanket statement of "Don't eat carbs" is not only unsustainable, but also unhealthy. Your brain and nervous system relies on a steady stream of glucose, using about 130g/day (about 45% of the recommended daily intake). Instead of choosing no carbs, choose good carbs.
Carbs are built out of sugar molecules, and we have often thought of simple carbs as 1-3 sugar molecules linked together, while complex carbs are made up of 4 or more sugar molecules.
Almost all carbs are broken down by the body in the same way, breaking them down into single sugar molecules, glucose, which are then able to cross into the bloodstream. Your pancreas responds to an increase of glucose by releasing insulin. Insulin then travels and binds to your cells membranes allowing cells to take up glucose from the blood and normalize the levels of sugar in the blood.
Thus, carbs play a role in diabetes, if you swing too far in one direction, continually creating insulin you eventually wear your pancreas out - and get type II diabetes.
There is one carb, however, that is not digestible - fiber. Fiber is unable to be broken down, and thus passes through your system. Soluble fiber binds to LDL and transports it out of the system, lowering your bad cholesterol. Insoluble fiber helps to push food through the intestinal tract.
Good Carbs
Choosing good carbs, those that are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, leads to a healthier body. The glycemic index (GI) of a food is a marker of the effect that a food has on blood glucose levels, with a lower number being preferable (55 or less is considered a low GI food). Common low GI foods include beans, nuts, seeds, most fruits and vegetables and most whole intact grains. High GI foods, ones to steer away from, are things that seem obvious; white bread, cookies, corn flakes, potatoes and pretzels to name a few. Check out an extensive study on the GI of foods worldwide, or see the Harvard study for a nicely compiled table.
That wraps up our chat on carbs, next newsletter - beans! Good or bad?
Just like Proteins - Carbohydrates are also 4 grams per calorie
Carbs provide your body with the fuel it needs for physical activity and organ function - so any diet that gives a blanket statement of "Don't eat carbs" is not only unsustainable, but also unhealthy. Your brain and nervous system relies on a steady stream of glucose, using about 130g/day (about 45% of the recommended daily intake). Instead of choosing no carbs, choose good carbs.
Carbs are built out of sugar molecules, and we have often thought of simple carbs as 1-3 sugar molecules linked together, while complex carbs are made up of 4 or more sugar molecules.
Almost all carbs are broken down by the body in the same way, breaking them down into single sugar molecules, glucose, which are then able to cross into the bloodstream. Your pancreas responds to an increase of glucose by releasing insulin. Insulin then travels and binds to your cells membranes allowing cells to take up glucose from the blood and normalize the levels of sugar in the blood.
Thus, carbs play a role in diabetes, if you swing too far in one direction, continually creating insulin you eventually wear your pancreas out - and get type II diabetes.
There is one carb, however, that is not digestible - fiber. Fiber is unable to be broken down, and thus passes through your system. Soluble fiber binds to LDL and transports it out of the system, lowering your bad cholesterol. Insoluble fiber helps to push food through the intestinal tract.
Good Carbs
Choosing good carbs, those that are high in fiber and have a low glycemic index, leads to a healthier body. The glycemic index (GI) of a food is a marker of the effect that a food has on blood glucose levels, with a lower number being preferable (55 or less is considered a low GI food). Common low GI foods include beans, nuts, seeds, most fruits and vegetables and most whole intact grains. High GI foods, ones to steer away from, are things that seem obvious; white bread, cookies, corn flakes, potatoes and pretzels to name a few. Check out an extensive study on the GI of foods worldwide, or see the Harvard study for a nicely compiled table.
That wraps up our chat on carbs, next newsletter - beans! Good or bad?
Monday, June 23, 2014
Macros - what are Macros??? Macro #1 Protein
Learning about Proteins
1 gram of protein is equal to 4 calories - first and foremost
Protein is the building block of all the tissue in the body including hair, nails, skin and muscle. As it relates to exercise, protein provides the body with the material it needs to repair damaged muscle tissue.
By reaching the necessary amounts of protein intake for your body you can build and maintain muscle as well as lose fat. In fact, your body burns more calories digesting protein than it does for carbs or fat. Not only that, protein helps you feel fuller longer!
Exercise causes tiny tears to the muscle. The body treats these tears as injuries and repairs them during rest. In addition to rest, the repair process requires nutrients such as: vitamins, minerals, fats, carbs and proteins. The repair process makes you bigger, stronger and faster.
Amino Acids
Protein is made up of amino acids. There are two types of amino acids; some the body can produce (non-essential amino acids) and others that need to be ingested (essential amino acids). There are nine essential amino acids (isoleucine, valine, leucine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine, arginine, lysine, histidine) that must be provided to the body through proper nutrition.
The recommended daily allowance is 0.8g/kg (0.4g/lb) of body weight (so about 80g of protein for a 200 pound person) - which can easily be reached through whole protein sources at each meal. However, athletes need a bit more protein per day, usually about 1.4-1.8g/kg if you are strength training or 1.2-1.4g/kg if you are endurance training. This extra requirement is often met through a supplemental protein shake either just before or right after a workout.
Urban legends have spread about the consumption of protein. It is often touted that too much protein can damage your kidneys, and while this is possible in severe excess, studies have shown that elevated protein intake under 2.8g/kg does not impair kidney function. Just as protein intake does not cause renal failure, it also does not cause weight gain (unless you increase your caloric intake).
Protein Sources
The best sources of protein is through whole foods such as red meats, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs and nuts. If you are on a budget, here is a list of cheap protein sources:
Soy protein is one of the only plant based protein sources considered to be a "complete" protein source. Soy protein is found in soy isolate, tofu, soybeans, miso and soy milk and the clear winner if you are vegan or vegetarian.
Whey is also a "complete" protein derived from animals. Whey is absorbed quickly in the body and has been shown to help build muscle and increase strength. In addition, whey protein helps reduce oxidative stress and has the ability to
That wraps up our chat on proteins, next up is carbs!
1 gram of protein is equal to 4 calories - first and foremost
Protein is the building block of all the tissue in the body including hair, nails, skin and muscle. As it relates to exercise, protein provides the body with the material it needs to repair damaged muscle tissue.
By reaching the necessary amounts of protein intake for your body you can build and maintain muscle as well as lose fat. In fact, your body burns more calories digesting protein than it does for carbs or fat. Not only that, protein helps you feel fuller longer!
Exercise causes tiny tears to the muscle. The body treats these tears as injuries and repairs them during rest. In addition to rest, the repair process requires nutrients such as: vitamins, minerals, fats, carbs and proteins. The repair process makes you bigger, stronger and faster.
Amino Acids
Protein is made up of amino acids. There are two types of amino acids; some the body can produce (non-essential amino acids) and others that need to be ingested (essential amino acids). There are nine essential amino acids (isoleucine, valine, leucine, tryptophan, threonine, methionine, arginine, lysine, histidine) that must be provided to the body through proper nutrition.
The recommended daily allowance is 0.8g/kg (0.4g/lb) of body weight (so about 80g of protein for a 200 pound person) - which can easily be reached through whole protein sources at each meal. However, athletes need a bit more protein per day, usually about 1.4-1.8g/kg if you are strength training or 1.2-1.4g/kg if you are endurance training. This extra requirement is often met through a supplemental protein shake either just before or right after a workout.
Urban legends have spread about the consumption of protein. It is often touted that too much protein can damage your kidneys, and while this is possible in severe excess, studies have shown that elevated protein intake under 2.8g/kg does not impair kidney function. Just as protein intake does not cause renal failure, it also does not cause weight gain (unless you increase your caloric intake).
Protein Sources
The best sources of protein is through whole foods such as red meats, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs and nuts. If you are on a budget, here is a list of cheap protein sources:
- Canned Tuna - 40g of protein per can, if you eat 1 can per day or less your mercury intake should be within normal limits. Watch out, however for BPA.
- Whole Eggs - 7g of protein per egg. Don't throw the yolk away! Dietary cholesterol doesn't affect blood cholesterol in the ways previously claimed.
- Whey - 24g of protein per 30g serving
- Ground beef - 25g of protein per 100g of ground beef. You can reduce the amount of fat present by rinsing your ground beef first.
- Milk - 30g of protein per liter of milk. This is great if you can find raw milk in your area, but shy away from milk as a protein source if you are aiming to lose weight.
- Chicken breast - 25g of protein per 100g of chicken
Soy protein is one of the only plant based protein sources considered to be a "complete" protein source. Soy protein is found in soy isolate, tofu, soybeans, miso and soy milk and the clear winner if you are vegan or vegetarian.
Whey is also a "complete" protein derived from animals. Whey is absorbed quickly in the body and has been shown to help build muscle and increase strength. In addition, whey protein helps reduce oxidative stress and has the ability to
Looking at the numbers, whey protein has an efficiency ratio of 3.2, a biological value of 104, 92% protein utilization and 100% digestability compared to an efficency ratio of 2.2, biological value of 74, 61% utilization and 100% digestability for soy protein. This makes whey protein a clear winner for anyone other than vegetarians and vegans. Check out the table below to see the breakdowns for other protein sources as well.
That wraps up our chat on proteins, next up is carbs!
Monday 23, June 2014
Warm up
400m run
2x20 yard skip
2x20 yard stiff leg bounding
1x20 yard karaoke right
1x20 yard karaoke left
2x10 yard high knees
2x10 yard butt kickers
1x5 yard inch worms
1x20 yard lunge
2x50 yard ACCELERATIONS - gradually pick up speed to 80% of max to 50 yard line
HIIT:
8x20 yard resistance sprints - resistance can be parachute, tire, weight from partner, 3-5% slope
4x20 yard backwards sprints
8x100 yard sprints
4x50 yard backwards sprints
400m run
2x20 yard skip
2x20 yard stiff leg bounding
1x20 yard karaoke right
1x20 yard karaoke left
2x10 yard high knees
2x10 yard butt kickers
1x5 yard inch worms
1x20 yard lunge
2x50 yard ACCELERATIONS - gradually pick up speed to 80% of max to 50 yard line
HIIT:
8x20 yard resistance sprints - resistance can be parachute, tire, weight from partner, 3-5% slope
4x20 yard backwards sprints
8x100 yard sprints
4x50 yard backwards sprints
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Be A Role Model
You don't have to be superhuman strong, insanely fast or have the motor of a genetic freak to be a good role model.
You don't need to have a bunch of acronyms in your pocket; PU, MU, DU, HSPU, T2B, C2B....those don't make you a role model either.
Your integrity makes you a role model.
Your willingness to listen to your coach, to their technique pointers, to apply their corrections - even if you are a world class lifter, or its your first time seeing a barbell - that willingness makes you a role model.
Cleaning up after your WOD, disinfecting your bar, cheering others on - THAT makes you a role model.
Killing yourself in the warmup to beat everyone else, but then half assing the WOD? Nope, not role model, try schmuck.
Recording a few extra rounds or reps or shaving 30s off your real time? Wrong again, that makes you a cheat.
Proudly rocking the band so you can hit the workout with more intensity? Encouraging your classmates to push themselves a bit harder?
DEFINITE role model material right there.
Wherever you are - firebreather, recent ex-couch potato or somewhere in between - be a role model today.
You don't need to have a bunch of acronyms in your pocket; PU, MU, DU, HSPU, T2B, C2B....those don't make you a role model either.
Your integrity makes you a role model.
Your willingness to listen to your coach, to their technique pointers, to apply their corrections - even if you are a world class lifter, or its your first time seeing a barbell - that willingness makes you a role model.
Cleaning up after your WOD, disinfecting your bar, cheering others on - THAT makes you a role model.
Killing yourself in the warmup to beat everyone else, but then half assing the WOD? Nope, not role model, try schmuck.
Recording a few extra rounds or reps or shaving 30s off your real time? Wrong again, that makes you a cheat.
Proudly rocking the band so you can hit the workout with more intensity? Encouraging your classmates to push themselves a bit harder?
DEFINITE role model material right there.
Wherever you are - firebreather, recent ex-couch potato or somewhere in between - be a role model today.
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Thursday 19, June 2014
This should be a good one!
10 yard SPRINT
1 push up
5 second plank hold
Sprint back to start
20 yard SPRINT
2 push ups
5 second plank hold
Sprint back to start
30 yard Sprint
3 push ups
5 second plan hold
Sprint back to start
CONTINUE this pattern every 10 yards increasing push ups by 1 until you reach the 100 yard mark or end zone to end zone with 10 push ups
If you are feeling REAL GOOD - go back down!
10 yard SPRINT
1 push up
5 second plank hold
Sprint back to start
20 yard SPRINT
2 push ups
5 second plank hold
Sprint back to start
30 yard Sprint
3 push ups
5 second plan hold
Sprint back to start
CONTINUE this pattern every 10 yards increasing push ups by 1 until you reach the 100 yard mark or end zone to end zone with 10 push ups
If you are feeling REAL GOOD - go back down!
WHY WE MUST WARM-UP!!!!
A dynamic warm-up is one that challenges every part of your body that you use to run.
Your body is a machine—your machine—and there are lots of moving parts. Your cardio
capacity is certainly a driving factor in your performance, but your ability to get the most from your cardio endurance is highly dependent on your body's ability to transfer your effort efficiently, from head to toe and on to the pavement, during each and every running stride.
A dynamic warm-up coordinates all of your moving parts—muscles, ligaments, and joints—by challenging your flexibility, mobility, strength and stability all at once; because that's what you ask of yourself when you run, right?! Doing so is pivotal in getting you to the finish line as fun, fast and pain-free as possible.
? Open up your joints, especially those within the hips, spine, feet and ankles.
? Actively stretch your muscles to prepare them for what you'll be asking them for during the run.
? Reinforce great posture.
? Hit the ground running with all systems go when the gun goes off!
? Set aside time dedicated to it. Whether it's 30 minutes or two minutes, you can do your body good.
? Clear your mind and focus on your body. Save chit-chatting with friends for before or after the race.
? Move through the movements purposefully but continuously so that your heart rate increases throughout.
1. Great Posture
2. Fire Up Your Glutes, Then Use Them, Always
Two Options:
Spine: Flex, extend, rotate and laterally bend the spine. Do this by rounding the back while reaching for your toes and then extending your back in the opposite direction. Then do a few side bends while keeping your abdominals and hips locked in place.
Hips and Knees: Try these two options:
Ankles and Feet: Do the all-important Calf Raise and Calf Stretch. This will not only warm up your calves and the muscles and ligaments of your ankles and feet, but will also stretch out your plantar fascia and prepare it to take on the forces of your running stride.
You've moved all your parts, now it's time to get the heart rate even higher, and give you control of your movement instead of gravity.
Your body is a machine—your machine—and there are lots of moving parts. Your cardio
capacity is certainly a driving factor in your performance, but your ability to get the most from your cardio endurance is highly dependent on your body's ability to transfer your effort efficiently, from head to toe and on to the pavement, during each and every running stride.
A dynamic warm-up coordinates all of your moving parts—muscles, ligaments, and joints—by challenging your flexibility, mobility, strength and stability all at once; because that's what you ask of yourself when you run, right?! Doing so is pivotal in getting you to the finish line as fun, fast and pain-free as possible.
The Goals of a Dynamic Warm-Up
? Increase heart rate to get the blood pumping through the body and warm up the muscles.? Open up your joints, especially those within the hips, spine, feet and ankles.
? Actively stretch your muscles to prepare them for what you'll be asking them for during the run.
? Reinforce great posture.
? Hit the ground running with all systems go when the gun goes off!
The Keys to a Dynamic Warm-Up
? Think of it as a part of the race. Do it!? Set aside time dedicated to it. Whether it's 30 minutes or two minutes, you can do your body good.
? Clear your mind and focus on your body. Save chit-chatting with friends for before or after the race.
? Move through the movements purposefully but continuously so that your heart rate increases throughout.
The Key Elements of a Dynamic Warm-Up
[NOTE: Click on exercise names for a link to videos of the exercises.]1. Great Posture
- Stand tall, like a string is attached to the top of your head gently pulling upward.
- Stand with feet shoulder width apart and pointing straight forward.
- Tighten key abdominals by pulling the bellybutton inward and rib cage downward.
- Pull the shoulders back and downward while keeping arms relaxed.
2. Fire Up Your Glutes, Then Use Them, Always
Two Options:
- Glute Bridge: Lying on your back, bend your knees to 90 degrees, keep heels on floor while pulling toes to your shins. Use your glutes to raise your hips so they are in a straight line with your knees and shoulders. Keep hips parallel to the ground. Hold for two seconds. Release, then repeat 10 times.
Lateral Lunge: Start with great posture and your feet wider than your shoulders. From there, squat your hips down and over to the right while keeping your left leg straight. Keeping your feet flat on the ground, use your right glute to push you up to your starting position. Repeat on the left side. Do 10 total.
Spine: Flex, extend, rotate and laterally bend the spine. Do this by rounding the back while reaching for your toes and then extending your back in the opposite direction. Then do a few side bends while keeping your abdominals and hips locked in place.
Hips and Knees: Try these two options:
- Knee Hugs - Standing with great posture, grab one knee with both hands and bring it up toward your chest. Maintain balance on the lower leg by firing the glute. Release the knee and step forward with that leg. Alternate legs while stepping forward for 10 yards.
Forward Lunge with a Twist - Lunge forward with one leg while keeping hips, knees, and ankles in line and hips parallel to the ground. Forward foot should be planted firmly on the ground to activate your glute. Hold that position strong while first reaching up with the arm of your lower leg, then reach the same arm to the outside of the forward leg to get a rotational stretch. Hold stretches for two seconds each. Face forward once again and return to standing using the strength of your forward leg.
Ankles and Feet: Do the all-important Calf Raise and Calf Stretch. This will not only warm up your calves and the muscles and ligaments of your ankles and feet, but will also stretch out your plantar fascia and prepare it to take on the forces of your running stride.
- Calf Raise and Stretch: Either keep it simple by raising your calves up and down while standing in place, or find a wall or a large tree trunk and, while facing it, stand three to four feet away with both hands on the wall. After doing a posture check, lift one leg just off the ground and raise the other calf by coming up all the way up on your toes. Hold that position for two seconds, then release and push the heel of that foot into the ground to get a calf stretch. Then bend the knee and continue to stretch. Repeat 10 times on each side.
You've moved all your parts, now it's time to get the heart rate even higher, and give you control of your movement instead of gravity.
- Forward March: Maintaining great posture and keeping your upper body as quiet as possible, march forward by bringing each knee up one at a time. Keep your toes pulled up toward your shin and hit the ground directly beneath your body, on your midfoot, each step forward. Drive your elbows back and keep them at 90 degrees throughout the drill. Do this over 10 yards twice.
Forward Skip: Same as the march, except you alternate with one foot bouncing on the ground while one hip drives up as in the march, then both feet bounce together, then the opposite leg, then both feet. Repeat. Again, cover about 10 yards twice. Or something similar, as long as you are actively changing the direction of force on the ground and getting your heart rate up while keeping great posture and opening up the hips.
The Two-Minute Version
- Glute Bridge or Lateral Lunge
- Forward Lunge with a Twist or Knee Hugs
- Forward Skip
Wednesday 18, June 2014
Nice and easy short sprint day!!!
12x
SPRINT
15 seconds
JOG
45 seconds
12 minutes of solid HARD work!!!
12x
SPRINT
15 seconds
JOG
45 seconds
12 minutes of solid HARD work!!!
Tuesday 17, June 2014
Grab some weights if you have them.
If not, you can alternate the shoulder press with a version of a hand stand push up. For the swings, do plank holds.
2x
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds dumbbell/kettlebell shoulder press
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds push ups
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 second speed skaters
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds dumbbell/kettlebell swings
10 seconds rest
If not, you can alternate the shoulder press with a version of a hand stand push up. For the swings, do plank holds.
2x
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds dumbbell/kettlebell shoulder press
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds push ups
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 second speed skaters
10 seconds rest
100 yard SPRINT
8x
20 seconds dumbbell/kettlebell swings
10 seconds rest
Monday, June 16, 2014
Monday 16, June 2014
Little sprint a little body weight a little kick ass workout!
5x
25 yard sprint
10 push ups
50 yard sprint
20 mountain climbers
75 yard sprint
10 frog jumps - squat low and deep
100 yard sprint
20 sit ups
Rest 60 seconds between rounds
5x
25 yard sprint
10 push ups
50 yard sprint
20 mountain climbers
75 yard sprint
10 frog jumps - squat low and deep
100 yard sprint
20 sit ups
Rest 60 seconds between rounds
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Tip of the Week
Tip #1:
The number on the scale will go down easier when it goes up too. Let me explain why: The whole idea of eating is to fuel your performance and use the times when you’re less active to burn fat. Ever notice how the scale always seems to stall at the same place?When you eat to fuel activity, the scale SHOULD go up and down; this is a good sign and is often a signal to your body that it doesn’t have to “make due”. When you provide an adequate amount of glucose from starches, your weight will sometimes go up as your depleted glycogen levels rise. This will fuel amazing workouts and lead to better progress. It also sends a signal to your body to up-regulate your metabolism over time and that is favorable for fat loss.
For many people, under eating leads to fat retention because the body is overly reliant on fats for fuel. Eating in a balanced way “with a purpose” sends the opposite signal and your body is not only willing to release stored body fat but it will also send a signal that will aide in building and retaining lean mass. So the tiny spikes up on the scale actually set up a better scenario to break through plateaus.
Friday 13, June 2014
Find a hill - if you are at UNR, the left side of the field has a nice little "ramp"
Warm up - nice and solid stretch be READY
Tabata speed skaters
then you will
10 hill sprints 100 meters when you reach the 100m turn around and finish a backward run for 25 meters
Warm up - nice and solid stretch be READY
Tabata speed skaters
then you will
10 hill sprints 100 meters when you reach the 100m turn around and finish a backward run for 25 meters
Thursday 12, June 2014
Its getting hot outside so get your work done early a.m. or a little later in the p.m.
8x200 m sprints with a 2 minute rest
keep your time consistent within 3 seconds either direction
6x400m runs with a 90 second rest
keep your time consistent within 3 seconds either direction
8x200 m sprints with a 2 minute rest
keep your time consistent within 3 seconds either direction
6x400m runs with a 90 second rest
keep your time consistent within 3 seconds either direction
Wednesday 11, June 2014
Extra stuff for your FAT burning needs!
This is one you can do with or without "cardio" equipment
1.
15 sprints -
15 second sprint
30 second rest
2.
8 sets of stadiums -
1 minute of every other
90 seconds of every step
- coming down is not included in your work time
3.
10 sets of jump rope
20 seconds of double unders
40 seconds of singles
This is one you can do with or without "cardio" equipment
1.
15 sprints -
15 second sprint
30 second rest
2.
8 sets of stadiums -
1 minute of every other
90 seconds of every step
- coming down is not included in your work time
3.
10 sets of jump rope
20 seconds of double unders
40 seconds of singles
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
It's HOOOOTTT out - here are some recipes to COOOOLLL you down
Everyone likes a nice cold Smoothie or Shake, and these are 3 yummy Paleo ones!
Apple Shake
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1/2 cup diced green apple - skin removed
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla essence
Ice - or freeze your apples and almond milk as well
Place in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Peach and Apple Smoothie
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1/2 cup diced green apple - skin removed
3/4 cup fresh diced peach - skin removed
Ice
Place in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Chocolate Banana Shake
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1 medium banana
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Ice
Place ingredients in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Apple Shake
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1/2 cup diced green apple - skin removed
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla essence
Ice - or freeze your apples and almond milk as well
Place in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Peach and Apple Smoothie
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1/2 cup diced green apple - skin removed
3/4 cup fresh diced peach - skin removed
Ice
Place in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Chocolate Banana Shake
1 cup almond milk or coconut milk
1 medium banana
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
Ice
Place ingredients in blender
Blend about 1 minute
Tuesday 10, June 2014
Today will take a total of 14 mins not including your warm up.
Just like we do everyday in here - you need to do a full body warm up to get you ready for any explosive, weight bearing, gymnastics based movements.
We will start our sprint days with a tabata always to get our heart rate pumping.
Tabata Burpees
4 minutes
20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest
8 rounds
Then we have
10 min EMOM
SPRINT 11 seconds
Jog 49 seconds
There it is, 14 minutes of HIIT done and over!
Look at our main site WOD for the day as well, you can throw it in with this just as easily and burn a few more calories!
Just like we do everyday in here - you need to do a full body warm up to get you ready for any explosive, weight bearing, gymnastics based movements.
We will start our sprint days with a tabata always to get our heart rate pumping.
Tabata Burpees
4 minutes
20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest
8 rounds
Then we have
10 min EMOM
SPRINT 11 seconds
Jog 49 seconds
There it is, 14 minutes of HIIT done and over!
Look at our main site WOD for the day as well, you can throw it in with this just as easily and burn a few more calories!
Monday 9, July 2014
HIIT at the field
The 5 a.m. group tackled a fun HIIT workout you can do in our own time today or even later this week if you are missing a day of conditioning.
The width of the football field - so side to side
Starting at the goal line
20 toe touches - on your back feet in the air raise your torso to touch your feet
Sprint the width of the filed
20 air squats
Sprint the width of the field, but now you are on the 5 yard line
And continue this rotation until you reach the 50 yard line
Once done,
2x
Sprint the straight away, jog the turns
With
20 stair jump squats
10 stair decline push ups
20 alternating jump lunges
10 dips
20 stair mountain climbers
At the end of each full 400m
The 5 a.m. group tackled a fun HIIT workout you can do in our own time today or even later this week if you are missing a day of conditioning.
The width of the football field - so side to side
Starting at the goal line
20 toe touches - on your back feet in the air raise your torso to touch your feet
Sprint the width of the filed
20 air squats
Sprint the width of the field, but now you are on the 5 yard line
And continue this rotation until you reach the 50 yard line
Once done,
2x
Sprint the straight away, jog the turns
With
20 stair jump squats
10 stair decline push ups
20 alternating jump lunges
10 dips
20 stair mountain climbers
At the end of each full 400m
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)