This past month was trying. In truth, this past year was trying. Professionally and personally I have met with some of the hardest trials I have ever had to deal with. Some of the battles I have won and some I have lost. In the end if I have learned one thing it is the importance of quality control, and the people you work with.

Flzine was supposed to be an epic adventure to help change the face of the industry. Since its launch it has been a rollercoaster of drama, fights, private emails, suit threats, and good tunes. The problem was prior to the launch I had a large crew to help me take on this journey with me. Now, as the days dwindle, so does the help.

Some have backed out because of not being able to “take the heat.” Others simply don’t have the time or the means. Beyond that there are never ending issues with technical problems that leave me spending more time on fixing things then writing content. My personal blog has suffered and my emails to general readers has suffered. Lastly, this site makes no money and is costing me hundreds a month to run and pay for people to help. I could deal with that if I have the time to devote to it, but I don’t (right now).

I am not giving up on the hope of FLzine, it is obvious to me now that it will have to be a true paid for and run zine and that open source posting doesn’t have the same pull. Times are tough all around and while my personal business is doing well, I can’t afford to lose anymore time.  My hope is if the launch of Body By Eats goes well, I will be able to pay for an ongoing editor, maybe even that Nick guy, to be my partner.

The issue is that of quality control. I would rather let the site be still, than to publish junk or sell  it to keep it going. The only people I trust to take on some of the bigger roles, don’t have time to do it for free, and neither do I.

My plan is to see if after Body by Eats comes out I will have the means and time to renew the site as personal project and see if I can’t get some quality help in here.

I would love to set it up as an open source site with certain approved posters able to log in and post whatever they want when they want. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, let me know. Off of the top of my head I can think of a few people who would be great. I think that is the only fix to the situation. If I can get that set up quickly and the forum fixed then we might get this rolling again together. Up to you guys really and the interest. Otherwise, I am going to have to wait till funds become more available to support something like this.

Forums

The forum issue was a separate one than this one.  For the time being I don’t see any reason to take it down. It should be steady now, and I don’t see any huge problems for the future. The traffic may or may not die down, that is really up to you guys. If anything your stuff and the record of your posts will always be there and backed up, ready to go if I launch the site again with new material.

However, I have opened up commenting on the blog. You can discuss it here or on the forums, whichever you choose.

The basis of this logic is flawed. Something being made or processed does not automatically mean it is dangerous, just as something natural does not automatically mean something is safe.

You may ask the question, “Is there anything that is processed that is good for us?” What defines processed?

For the purposes of this post I will use the following definitions.

-A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result
-A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of a product
-Prepared or converted by a special process

This obviously spans a wide range and if taken to its height of being literal, or being annoyingly anal, it could be hard to find something that isn’t processed. Still, we will bypass a few basic steps and move to ones that would fend well for our argument which is that processed can mean good, and natural can mean bad.

“Good” Processed Foods and Supplements

Fish Oil
Creatine
Protein Powders
Vitamins
Water

You may not think of those things in terms of being processed, but they are. I don’t know anyone who drinks water from a lake, river, or stream. I don’t know anyone who squeezes their fish oil from their own fish.

“Bad” Natural Foods and Drugs

In the past 5 years these following items have caused serious illness/ death and are all natural.

Spinach
Natural Peanut Butter
Apple
Tuna
Red Meat
Chicken
Eggs
Natural Cocaine
Natural Tobacco
People

Before you think that something is bad because it is processed, or something is good because it is natural, ask yourself two questions.

Are you basing your opinion on the right information?
Is there ever a safe in the first place?

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

The forum is down. It is a database/table error and it should have been a relatively easy fix, but it’s blame game time.

“No it’s them”

“NO, It’s THEM!”

ETA for the forum is a few days if everything can be saved. If it can’t then it will be a brand new forum that isn’t SMF so at least I don’t have to deal with that bs.

The main database is “cracked,” wtf that means and some of the site isn’t working right. All the draft posts we had ready to put up? Nada.

Hopefully things will be up and running back to normal (or hopefully better.) If not I am setting the damn thing on fire and roasting organic marshmallows.

By the way did you ever notice that those things are made with fucking fish pectin and gelatin? Am I the only person that finds that weird? Why? It’s a marshmallow, what can you possibly add to that of nutritional value? If you are going to eat one just eat a normal marshmallow ya know?

In the meantime, please enjoy a selection of the finest hold music ever.

Thug Love

Trance Romance

Hardcore Rejection

Using quotations to express desire or to inspire is nothing new. It never gets old and it never fails to work 100% of the time to give you something, maybe not everything, but something. Sometimes you need something to help you hang in there and to keep fighting.

What better way to start off a post about quotes, than with a quote?

1. Life itself is a quotation. – Jorge Luis Borges

2. To be awake is to be alive. Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in. Every man is a builder of a temple, called his body, to the god he worships, after a style purely his own, nor can he get off by hammering marble instead. We are all sculptors and painters, and our material is our own flesh and blood and bones. Any nobleness begins at once to refine a man’s features, any meanness or sensuality to imbrute them. Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. – Henry David Thoreau

3. Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being,
while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. – Plato

4. The only man who is really free is the one who can turn down an invitation to dinner without giving an excuse. – Jules Renard

5. Science may set limits to knowledge, but should not set limits to imagination. – Bertrand Russell

6. Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. – Robert Frost

7. Stupid is forever, ignorance can be fixed.  – Don Wood

8. I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time. – Anna Freud

9. If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it. – Brendan Francis

10. Hope is a waking dream. - Aristotle

11. Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are. – Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

12. A man’s health can be judged by which he takes two at a time – pills or stairs. – Joan Welsh

13. Every man is the builder of a temple called his body. – Henry David Thoreau

14. It’s choice – not chance – that determines your destiny.  – Jean Nidetch

15. Change your thoughts and you change your world. – Norman Vincent Peale

16. There is small danger of being starved in our land of plenty; but the danger of being stuffed is imminent.
- Sarah Josepha Hale

17. It’s not the load that breaks you down – it’s the way you carry it. - Lou Holtz

18. Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.  – William Jennings Bryan

19. They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. – Andy Warhol

20. Character – the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life – is the source from which self respect springs. – Joan Didion

21. Health is not simply the absence of sickness. - Hannah Green

22. The first question I ask myself when something doesn’t seem to be beautiful is why do I think it’s not beautiful. And very shortly you discover that there is no reason.  – John Cage

23. The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. - Confucius

24. It’s not that some people have willpower and some don’t. It’s that some people are ready to change and others are not. – James Gordon

25. Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

26. Aging is not ‘lost youth’ but a new stage of opportunity and strength. - Betty Friedan

27. Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically, if we are willing to listen to them. – Shakti Gawain

28. Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. – Carol Burnett

29. Food is an important part of a balanced diet. - Fran Lebowitz

30. LI stand in awe of my body. – Henry David Thoreau

31. Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm. – Winston Churchill

32. Let my name stand among those who are willing to bear ridicule and reproach for the truth’s sake, and so earn some right to rejoice when the victory is won. - Louisa May Alcott

33. Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

You’d think I killed a litter of puppies when I wrote that review.

If not aware I recently reviewed Jillian Michaels book “Master Your Metabolism.” I guess I also mastered SEO work because I am on the main page for practically anything you type in for the book. #1 for “Master Your Metabolism Review.” I even beat out amazon, and apparently someone put up the review on Amazon as well based on some things I said.

I am explaining this because you have to understand the level of emails, PM’s, linkbacks, and death threats I have received, and the above is why.

The number one complaint that I am receiving and reading is that I “didn’t going into enough detail.”

Obviously people have a hard time understanding the concept of following the link to the forum post that has page after page of me answering detailed questions and covering the data. That apparently is too much for them. Added to the fact that it is a personal book review. This was not supposed to be a detailed page by page examination of the entire book.

I find it even funnier that a review that states “Wow! Jillian scores again, such a fantastic book about your metabolism!” Gets 5 stars, but my previous review can be seen as “vague.” Really?

Detail you want? Detail you get.

Before I dive in though, just for fun, I want to address a few personal things that I find to be hilarious that were sent to me.

Point #1- I am jealous of Jillian’s celebrity.

I am a triple xxx list celebrity in my own right thank you very much. I have at least 1 person a day email me that they are standing outside my window. Because of this I could care less about D-list Jillian Michaels.

Also, there could be a chance that I am one of the few people in the world who believe that talent and ability make someone swoon worthy. Fame means nothing to me, character and talent does. Label me unimpressed by fame.

Point #2-I have an agenda of trying to sell my book.

My books are better, more logical, and you’re damn right I am going to suggest them in place of hers. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t suggest others or that I have a problem with competition. I happen to review and recommend other books, in my exact field, all the time. I have even told people to buy a book over my own if I felt it fit with them better. I am an entrepreneur yes, but shockingly have ethics to back it up.

If looking for more of this writing magic, please check out my awesome books over at fatlosstroubleshoot.com. Where you can get 2 books, audio cd, workout programs, meal plans and more! How about that for an obvious plug.

Point #3- “Leigh, you’re a nasty woman with a bush like shag carpet and teeth like a ravenous beaver!” -Jillian

I resent this statement and will have you know that my vagina’s teeth are in no way beaver shaped.

Point #4- You didn’t care about how much I rambled on before the book review itself.

Oops, I did it again!

Like I stated in the previous book, my main problems were the “absolutes” and unsupported claims about certain products and health issues. I am going to address some of the specific ones and you can judge from there.

Before I dive in there are a few things that you need to understand.

The headache of research analyzing research

If you are new to analyzing research this can be a huge huge headache. I speak from personal experience. I still don’t know half of what is out there and there is some research that is simply beyond my scope of understanding.

Everything has a deeper layer. For example, right now you are reading this message while sitting at a computer (more than likely). You know in order to type a hate letter to me about this review you have to take your fingers and make them move on the keyboard attached to your computer. Just that simple act has so many layers from how your brain functions to how the keys being pushed creates letters that pop up on the screen.

I can tell you only to a point of my understanding of this. Meaning…

Your finger strikes the key, the key hits a switch that is on something called a “key matrix.” That causes a vibration or a bounce. That then goes into the processor that figures out based on a character map what the letter was, if it was small or capitalized, etc. From there, I have no idea, but I can guess that it keeps going to find a way to appear on your screen. This all happens in an instant and being I am typing right now, I find that fascinating.

That may or may not even be right, I don’t know. I don’t research computers.

Some researchers go in depths beyond a point that even the smartest of people can go. Those people report to other people on a lower level. Based upon those peoples knowledge it gets more “dummed down,” until you achieve a rough end to the telephone game. Like with any telephone game the first message can differ greatly from the last.

If you are still here following along the take home point is that when you get to a book like “Master Your Metabolism” the information in it has passed through many telephones. You have to check best you can on the quality of their interpretations of that message.

Specific points to go along with those that you can find on the forums.

Page 28: “We’ll focus on food groups that trigger your fat-burning hormones and blunt your fat storing hormones”

Doesn’t exist. There is no such thing as a fat storing hormone. There is a collection of processes that lead you to store fat if in a caloric deficit or if you have to much of certain macros. However, even if you store fat you can turn right around and pull from those stores if in a deficit. It is the simplest thing in the world and very logical but missed by doctors, trainers, and nutritionist world wide.

Page 28: “No calorie counting here. You’ll learn how to combine foods in ways that trigger optimal hormone release…keep body burning calories throughout the day, you’ll be eating constantly.”

This is deceptive and also works on the principal of multiple meals and combining foods.

Food timing and combing certain foods, while it can be a nutritional strategy, doesn’t HAVE to be in order to be healthy or lose fat. It is made very clear it is in her book. Also, the fact that a caloric deficit doesn’t need to be achieved is ridiculous and going to set people up for frustration. It is also contradicted in many sections.

Page 29: “You wont believe how many chemicals are in your water supply, house, office, car -you name it-are making you fat right now.”

You don’t gain fat out of nowhere. Those same chemical are in the air too and unless you live in a plastic bubble, you’re screwed anyway. She suggests through out the book that -
a) she knows what they do (she doesn’t)
b) that you can do something about it (depending on where you live, you may or may not be able too)

No matter what, no chemical in the world makes you gain fat out of nowhere. There is a CHANCE that certain exposures on larger levels can mess with endocrine functions making you more sensitive to hunger, stress, and insulin issues. However, none of that forces a outback steak and onion rings into your mouth.

Page 33: She accounts of her story about how her friend and Vanessa are completely different and it is the diet sodas and organic foods that were the answer.

It is a anecdotal story that is the base lead off for the books information and plays on the “I hate my pretty friend” card, which is just sadder.

Page 38: There is a chart discussing “Things that mess up insulin” and she lists out “Certain food additives, pesticides, and plastics.”

No references at all to any specifics data showing anything about these things have a direct link on insulin response in humans that I am aware of on small levels.

The only things you can pull up that provide this are ridiculous studies that have no real world effect or situations of special and EXTREME contamination, mostly with animals. Here is an example of such one.

Earlier test-tube studies had suggested that bisphenol-A makes pancreatic cells secrete secrete /se·crete/ (se-kret´) to elaborate and release a secretion.
se·crete
v.
To generate and separate a substance from cells or bodily fluids. the glucose-regulating hormone insulin. To investigate this effect in live animals, Nadal and his colleagues injected adult male mice with pure corn oil or with oil containing either bisphenol-A or an equal amount of the natural female sex hormone sex hormone
n.
Any of various steroid hormones, such as estrogen and androgen, affecting the growth or function of the reproductive organs and the development of secondary sex characteristics.
….. Click the link for more information. estradiol. Animals received as many as eight shots over 4 days.

Within 30 minutes of an injection, animals receiving either the sex hormone or bisphenol-A had abnormally low concentrations of glucose in their blood, Nadal’s team reports in the January Environmental Health Perspectives. The chemicals acted on recently discovered estrogen receptors on pancreatic cells’ surfaces to boost the cells’ secretion of insulin, the researchers determined.

Repeated exposure to either bisphenol-A or the natural estrogen over several days produced insulin resistance, a pre-diabetic state in which tissues lose their sensitivity to normal concentrations of insulin, Nadal’s group says. Estrogen receptors in the pancreatic-cell nucleus appear to contribute to this gradual effect.

So, receptors both in the cell nucleus and on the surface could contribute to insulin resistance and diabetes, Nadal says.

Leaking of bottles could never equal this kind of level and as research has shown only certain bottles ever could and a a couple of good hot washes destroys any trace all together.

Page 70: “A recent large scale epidemiological study by the national institutes of Health looked at what happened to thirty thousand people, mostly men, who used pesticides on their farms. These licensed applicators, of the chemicals, probably with protective gear, had a greater risk of diabetes.

The results suggest that being exposed to pesticides may be a significant contributor to diabetes. “

So lets break this down.

A survey/collection study (that is basically what a epidemiological study is) is given to a bunch of farmers, who live all day in the pesticides as their job.Based on these questionnaires, they determine that the reason these farmers are fat and have diabetes is the pesticides?

This is taking nothing into consideration of that fact that these farmers could be stuffing themselves left and right with barbecue and rolls.

Now, because of these few, fat, diabetes ridden farmers, the apple I got and washed off (which washing alone has proven to servery decrease contamination) is going to cause me to get fat and diabetes?

Yes. Yes, that is brilliant research and cause/effect connection.

This is a small, small amount. The whole book is filled with them to the brim. I will give you a more gems before closing.

Fish oil-1g – Really? Out of all the stuff in the book that you researched you didn’t find out that higher levels might actually be the one thing any there that CAN help. You didn’t find out that higher levels of fish oil intake could possibly combat some of the very effects you are claiming in the book?

Only eat organics-Is it a bad thing to be safe? No. Has it been proven to do anything? No.

“Status Summary- Organic Foods. Journal of food Science- vol. 71, Nr.9, 2006

The FDA actually conducts its own market basket survey, the total diet study, which involves a market basket of 285 distinct foods analyzed for pesticide residues at the time the foods are ready for consumption. While the results for the total diet study have consistently shown low levels of pesticide residues in food samples, the FDA discontinued estimating dietary exposure to specific pesticides after 1991. From the 1991 total diet study, the highest daily average pesticide intake among different population subgroups (6- to 11- month old infants, 14- to 16 yr old men, and 60- to 65- y-old women) was compared directly with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization/ WHO ADI values for 38 pesticides. Estimated exposures were less than 1% of the ADI values for 34 of the, with the remaining 4 pesticides contributing 1%, 1.8%, 2.7%, and 4.8% of the ADI values. To put such values in perspective, the ADI typically represents a value 100 times lower than the highest level of exposure to a pesticide given to the most sensitive animal species on a daily basis throughout it’s lifetime that has not caused any noticeable toxicological effect. A typical human exposure at 1% of the ADI represents an exposure 10000 times lower than levels that do not cause toxicity in animals. Such findings suggest that typical dietary exposure to pesticide residues in foods poses minimal risks to humans. From a practical standpoint, the marginal benefits of reducing human exposure to pesticides in the diet through increased consumption of organic produce appear to be insignificant.”

There are also more charted cases of people dying due to hookworms and other problems because of pest ridden foods than anything showing up on pesticides, for the record. It is much like the swine flu. Thousands of people die every year from the regular flu, but because of a handful of people sick in another country thousands of pigs are being killed and paraniod people are running rapid to the doctors.

No carbs before bed/Don’t eat after nine-*sigh*

Yeah, if you have insomnia it might not be the best time to eat a lot of sugar, before bed or down cases of red bulls either. However, that doesn’t mean that have a small meal at night is going ot hurt you, especially if it fits within your scedule or program.

Small activity doesn’ help, get to the gym 4-5 hours a week-Nope, wrong again there Jillian. I am happy for you though that your OC exercise habits have decreased to that level now though, congrats.

It is also hilarious that all the exercise prescriptions contradict most of the hormonal arguments.

Is this detailed enough yet?

I have a great idea, the next person that wants to argue about my review of the book, please do the following.

-Read all the studies that are cited on the specific topics you want to argue.
-Read other studies that aren’t listed in the field of work so that you can provide a review on the subject.
-Research the actual effects of meal timing and macro combination in relation to body composition and health
-Don’t whine and pull bull arguments like “your just jealous or I think you are bitter.” I am not, and that has no relevance and is basically a “Well YOU SMELL!” arguing technique.

I am not arguing with anyone that doesn’t present me a logical study. If so I am happy to hear it, all ears even as it would give me a greater ability to protect myself and clients.

Any further questions?

My take home point is this.

There is nothing wrong with eating healthy and taking the safe road IN CASE we found out that what we know thus far turns out to be wrong or more severe. However, scare tactics by a paranoid aggressive trainer who wants you to run from everything until there is no place left to go, not even the water, is crap.

Be careful? Yes.
Make healthy decisions overall? Yes.
Do what you can to get the best nutrition possible? Yes.
Don’t drink cleaner fluid? Yes.

Make absolutes and claim that things are proven (that aren’t), and scare the shit out of people with BS facts?

NO.

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

So you somehow scored the date that you wanted and its time to push aside all distractions, and possibly sex, to do some talking. Unless you want the person running the other way, here is what NOT to say to a guy who is into training.

Guys don’t want to hear…

1- “I hate exercise, I will never do that”

What it means: That your either frumpy or have the luck of the draw for a while, but time will run out. When it does you might be left wishing you would have done it before.
What they hear: That you are whinny, lazy, and likely high maintenance.

2- “I don’t want to sweat”

What it means: Your insecure that your gallons of makeup will run and they will see the true you.
What they hear: That you shouldn’t be seen in the morning light of day.

3- “I hate healthy food, its so bland”

What it means: You have no desire to try new things and lack change in your life.
What they hear: Low class tastebuds and can’t cook.

4- “Why do you spend all your time at the gym without me?”

What it means: You don’t know who you are without a boyfriend.
What they hear: You aren’t supporting a huge part of their life

5- “Does she have a better body than me?”

What it means: You are always fishing for a compliment that you never believe.
What they hear: That the only way you will ever be happy is if everyone else is below you.

Girls don’t want to hear…

1- “I’ve put a little on since high school”

What it means: That your prone to get over things unless highly motivated by social acceptance.
What they hear: If you start working out, it may be for another girl.

2- “I hate girls with muscle”

What it means: You find women with obvious muscle to be unattractive.
What they hear: Never lift a weight if you want to be seen as hot.

3- “I don’t like you training around all those guys, can’t you join a women’s gym?”

What it means: Your insecure about what the other stud dudes have to offer in a world she spends most of her time in.
What they hear: You are not secure (and she needs someone secure, not a whiny baby); and that you don’t take their workouts seriously.

4- “Don’t change, your fine the way you are”

What it means: You don’t like change in someone that you love.
What they hear: If they change they may lose you.

5- “I like a girl that eats”

What it means: You don’t like girls who whine about their diets, but you would never date a fat ass so you are a hypocrite.
What they hear: That everything they eat in front of you will bring a judgment.

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

–

Featured Item for this post: The Fat Loss Troubleshoot if you don’t want to be that insecure “guy/girl” check it out.

25 dollars.

Everyday the world tries to get you to spend at least 25 dollars on something. Here are just a few things that cost 25 dollars.

-2 person meal and tip at TGIF’s
-2-3 drinks at a bar with tip
-half a tank of gas in a SUV
-24 pack of paper towels
-plain tank top
-2 packages of gourmet coffee
-The chance to help save someones life and over 800 pages of some of the best training, nutrition, and rehab information you can find.

I bring up the last point because it was recently the anniversary of Liftstrong.  A  product where you get over 800 pages of goodies. The best part is that 100%, not some, but all proceeds go to help aid in research for cancer.

I fucking hate cancer.

Apparently I am more of a loner in this than I thought.

See, I have a emailing list. Any self respectful guru wannabe has a email list.

I try to provide my list with helpful information and updates about what I am doing. I have talked to over 1000+ people personally on that list. I assure you that is not normal. I genuinely care about what I send my list of readers.

I am also signed up on other people’s email lists. You know, to spy. To see what the competition is up to, to find out about the latest crazes, and to check up on what that bastard Mike Robertson is doing. Are you on his list by the way? I would link you but I don’t want to divert your attention just yet, but after you are done with all of this go sign up.

When the anniversary of Liftstrong came up I got asked to  get the word out. I didn’t give it a 2nd thought. I had nothing to gain either. I am not even on the damn thing. You think they would have done a 2nd edition. Just so I could have make an appearance. Maybe a video with me hugging the “fuck cancer” bear or something, but no.

In my humble state I did what anyone else should have done in that situation, I swallowed my pride, and I sent out the word to help fight cancer. You know, cancer, that shit that is killing millions of people we love everyday.

For a brief moment or two, I felt warm, and good about what I had done for the world.  Then I got bitter because I noticed that only me and a few other people had the same enthusiasm to help. It’s funny I kept getting emails about my abs, and flying lessons (because that is relevant to ab training), but no cancer support.

I am not going to jump to any conclusions…yet.

Hopefully they didn’t know about it. So now, this is where YOU are going to help me. I want you to let them know about it. You are going to share how much you would love to know about something like this.

Your assignment

I want to you send a message to all the gurus that you are subscribed to, and let them know that you want their support for Liftstrong. Ask them if they could send an email out or post up a blog.  I have made it even easier on you and am providing you with a pre-written email.

“Dear (enter 6 pack ab toting guru name here)

I have been a member of your email list for a long time now. While I do enjoy all the daily emails about how to look massively sexy, I feel the need for a little more substance today.

Recently, I stumbled over to the Flzine site and read a blog post by the amazing (and might I say highly underrated and talented) Leigh Peele.  It was discussing this great product, Liftstrong, in which all proceeds go to cancer. I hadn’t gotten any emails about that from you, and was wondering if you knew about? I think it would be great for you to send out to your list of readers, and also it will not lump you into a category of douches and vagina’s that shaft cancer research. Wouldn’t want that!

Here is the link to the Liftstrong site.

http://www.liftstrong.com/

Looking forward to seeing the email.

(Your Name Here)”

Don’t assume that someone else is going to do it. Even if you can’t buy the product yourself, take just 3 mins to copy and paste that on a blog you visit, or to email them personally.

I am going to be making the rounds tomorrow and I better see this any and everywhere I look on a blog. Even if you aren’t sure if they mailed it out, do it. Some people might NOT have known, and we really don’t want them lumped in with those others guys now, do we?

After you have spread the word, hop over to the Liftstrong site yourself and get an awesome gift and support the research that might change peoples lives.

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

Get on Bombay.

This is what REALLY works.

To read comments or to leave a comment click here

Tony should need no introduction, but we will give the bastard one anyway.

If you have never read his blog, read it.

If you have never read his articles, read them.

If you have never read our feature of Gentilcore-ism, read it.

Question 1: You are stuck on a beautiful island. You have a choice of being fed grapes everyday by the hottest woman you have ever seen or chicken breasts by the ugliest fat sweaty man you have ever seen. What do you choose?

Tony Gentilcore: If said woman is Krystal Forscutt, I’d eat diarrhea. Yes, I just went there. How’s that to start an interview?

Question 2: What are a few dynamic warm up drills that anyone can use, for all occasions.

Tony Gentilcore: While I normally don’t like to take a “one size fits all” approach when it comes to programming, I have found that I do tend to use many of the same dynamic drills for the majority of my clients; particularly for the “computer guys” I deal with.

While I was in Indianapolis visiting Mike Robertson and Bill Hartman at their facility (I-FAST) last week, Mike and I had a similar conversation in regards to how we both “pick” which corrective strategies (dynamic flexibility, foam rolling, pre-work, dedicated activation, what have you) we use with particular clients. When you think about it, each client is going to come to us with their own distinct/unique issues in regards to what asymmetries, postural dysfunctions, and pathogenic issues they may exhibit.

What I “program” for someone with no training experience and a history of low-back pain will undoubtedly be completely different compared to someone who has had a few years of solid training under their belt.

All else being equal, I can’t dismiss the fact that I do often see many commonalities among various training populations. Take for example the hips. To be quite honest, everyone has some sort of dyskinesis when it comes to the hips. Unfortunately, we’re a society that spends a lot of time sitting on our asses. As a result, we often see a lot of dysfunctions along the kinetic chain stemming from lack of ROM/mobility in the hips. Some of my favorite dynamic drills for the hips include:

Kneeling Hip Flexor Mobilizations

Reverse Lunge w/Posterolateral Reach

Squat-to-Stand w/Reach

Kneeling Rockback Mobilizations

Side Lying Clams

Question 3: I know you do a lot of baseball work with your athletes, but what other areas do you cover? Do you work with a lot of guys on jumping for example?If so, what are good beginner drills or training methods for increasing jump ability?

Tony Gentilcore: Baseball has definitely gotten to be our niche market at CP, and that’s perfectly fine with us. We actually had an awesome group of minor league guys train with us this past off-season, representing eleven Major League organizations.

Additionally, we train a plethora of local high school and college baseball players as well. We’ve kind of taken it upon ourselves to break many of the fallacies and misconceptions that baseball players/coaches have towards strength and conditioning. It’s absolutely mind-boggling how dogmatic it is.

However, like any other strength and conditioning facility, we have a wide variety of athletes that we train- everything from football, basketball, hockey, and boxing to marathoners, tri-athletes, and even fencing. It’s never a dull moment at CP.

As well, we also have a fair share of “weekend warriors” and fat-loss clients that come in and pay us to yell at them a few days per week. I swear my day is never complete till someone tells me how much they hate me, tells me I suck, mentions how much of an a-hole I am, and/or wants to punch me in the baby-maker for making them push the sled. I heart my clients.

As far as helping people improve their jumping ability, we do include the vertical jump as part of our initial assessment with athletes. However, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that we do anything specific or revolutionary as far as helping to improve one’s vertical jump. While I am being rather simplistic here, it really comes down to force production. Many of the athletes that come to use are fairly weak to begin with, so it’s really a matter of getting them stronger.

A few years ago, I wrote an article titled “The Rule of 90%” for t-nation.com, and to help illustrate my point, I want to steal a section of the original article:
In his book, The Vertical Jump Development Bible, Kelly Baggett talks about how the vertical jump is one of the best predictors of athletic performance. Essentially, how much force you can generate in a short amount of time (0.2 seconds for the vertical jump) is going to separate a superb athlete from an average athlete.

Because I’m more of a visual learner, I’m going to share an example from Kelly’s book:

Bodyweight Maximum force or strength without time constraint (squat) Max force put out in the vertical jump (0.2 sec)

Athlete A 175 lbs 400 lbs 200 lbs
Athlete B 175 lbs 300 lbs 225 lbs

As you can see, athlete A can squat more than athlete B, but athlete B is going to have a better vertical jump because he can generate more force, rapidly. However, Kelly makes a point in stating that, “Although being able to apply force rapidly is a very useful characteristic, you still need to have enough potential force to tap into for anything to happen. Basically, a strong athlete will beat a weak athlete any day of the week.”
Maximum strength is the foundation for everything (power, strength endurance, force development, etc.). You can’t have strength endurance (being able to lift a sub-maximal weight repeatedly) or generate maximum force without first having strength.
Here’s another example from Kelly’s book to help illustrate this point:

Bodyweight Max Force (strength) in the Squat Max force in vertical jump

Weak athlete 200 lbs 100 lbs 95 lbs
Ideal athlete 175 lbs 400 lbs 325 lbs

The weak athlete is able to utilize 95% of his potential force and has a good rate of force development; however, he’s only able to squat 100 pounds. He has very little to “tap into” and is only able to generate 95 pounds of force off the ground. Needless to say, he’s going to be that guy who’s lowering his adjustable rim in his driveway to eight feet so he can dunk a basketball.

The “ideal” athlete is only utilizing 75% of his potential force (20% less than the weak athlete), but is generating 325 pounds of force off the ground because he’s strong. Again, strength is the foundation for everything. More specifically, relative strength trumps absolute strength from an athletic standpoint.

What does all of this tell us?

Short answer: quit being a pussy and focus on getting stronger. Good things will happen.

Conversely, I don’t want to make the wrong impression and imply that we don’t include any dedicated jumping drills into our programming. I mean, in order to get better at jumping, it’s only common sense that one would need to actually jump. In that regard, we like to include some low-level “plyometric” drills in the form of box jumps (emphasizing landing mechanics), skipping drills, jump squats, dedicated sprinting technique, as well as tons of medicine ball work.

Question 4: I know you are writing for the Boston Herald right now, sweet gig. What can readers expect from your blog?

Tony Gentilcore: Yeah, I’ve been writing for the Boston Herald’s website for a little over two years now. While I was at Sportsclub/LA (in Boston), I had a client who worked at the Herald and she mentioned to me that they were looking for someone to write a fitness/nutrition blog for their website. I figured it would be a good opportunity to get my name out there more, while at the same allowing me to work on becoming a better writer.

Anyone who has been a regular reader of my blog knows that I don’t take myself too seriously. I like to have fun with it. I mean, while talking about beta fatty oxidation or glute medius function is cool, it’s about as entertaining as watching an episode of The Golden Girls. People want information, but they also want to be entertained. I think I’ve done a decent job at combining the two.

Question 5: What is the last…

Book you read:

Tony Gentilcore: I’m always reading a few books at once.

I just finished Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin. To be honest, I’d rather swallow battery acid than read that book again. I guess I just found it too similar to Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (phenomenal book by the way), and just found his writing style a bit too dry.

The last novel I finished was one called Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, which was really good. I’m currently reading a book titled The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, which is rocking my world. Absolutely amazing book. I’m also plugging my way through Muscles: Testing and Function. As you can probably guess, girls basically rip their shirts off when they see me pull that book out of my backpack at Starbucks on a Friday night.

Album/Single you got:

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. I’m definitely setting myself up for being flamed, but whatever. I actually bought a compilation jazz album the other night. I don’t have the first clue about jazz, but all I know is that it relaxes me. I like to listen to it when I’m writing programs, working on an article, or just vegging out.

Other favs include Ryan Montbleau Band, The Frames, Ray LaMontagne, and Norah Jones.

When I train I like to listen to trance/techno or old school rap, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang, Biggie, Mobb Deep, The Roots, Nas, etc.

Film/Show you watched:

I LOVE going to the movies. I often go by myself on the weekends, and I’m just as likely to go see the artsy, independent movie (was that a nipple?????), as I am the high budget, “popcorn” movie. I went and saw Adventureland the other night, which I thought was really good. As far as television shows, there’s only one I go out of my way to NOT miss, and that’s Lost. Holy shit nuts is that show amazing. Granted, it pisses me off half the time, but I’ve been addicted to it ever since the first episode.

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Hardcore PT: Chiro’s are a bunch of manipulative manipulators with back-cracking fetishes who are grounded in pseudo-science and vitalism.

Hardcore Chiro: PT’s are a bunch of narrow-minded allopathic puppets that are experts in placing hotpacks on patients while they iron them (ultrasound).

Discuss…

Right out of the shoot, this isn’t a one-vs-the-other argument. Rather it is an honest look at the professions of Physical Therapy and Chiropractic. It will look at the advantages, the flaws, and the opinions that relate to the fitness industry.

I’m hoping to tease out the best of both professions based on research, and my own experiences to help the fitness pro and enthusiast alike to make more informed decisions. I also want to start a massive fight between PT’s and DC’s….yeah!

Eliminating the Blanket Statement-ry

My opening scenario outlines the extreme opinion when it comes to both the PT and the Chiropractic profession, with reality settling somewhere in the middle. Here are some thoughts to consider when looking at both areas.

• There are both great physio’s and great chiro’s, as well as poor ones.
• We must look at the practitioner, rather than the discipline, when making a broad-based opinion on the profession.
• We must look at whether an intervention is evidence-based, rather than whether it is “chiropractic or PT” or on a broader scale, “allopathic” vs. “alternative”.

The line in the sand becomes even more blurry when discussing interventions. There are on-going legal issues regarding scope of practice and which profession may or may not do what. This is confounded by state and provincially-governed laws. Here is some clarification:

• DC’s don’t just “crack backs.”
• PT’s can and in many cases do “crack backs.”
• Manipulation is the “bread and butter” treatment used by chiropractors, while PT’s tend to use manipulation as an adjunct treatment.
• In many states, Chiro’s are able to perform rehabilitation services to their patients.

Without getting into a drawn-out discussion on education, suffice to say there is a good deal of overlap between PT and Chiro schools. The difference in terms of scope is small.

PT’s are trained in stroke rehabilitation, cardiorespiratory, rehabilitation, and post op orthopaedic rehabilitation.

Chiro’s have better training in radiology and diagnosis.

The Favorable aspects of Chiropractic

• Chiropractic treatment tends to have a high satisfaction rating amongst patients. This could be a function of its efficacy but may also be due to patient relationship and dialogue. Either way, PT’s could probably learn something from chiro’s in terms of communication and perhaps take a look at acute pain management – an area where Chiro’s seem to have an edge (some of these thoughts are anecdotal).
• Chiropractic treatments are generally effective for acute (and in some cases) chronic nueromusculoskeletal issues. There is also some evidence that manipulations are beneficial for migraine headaches. It should be noted, however that many trials prove inconclusive when it comes to chiropractic efficacy.

Flaws of Chriopractic

Again, I will reiterate the fact that I am talking about “ChriopracTORS” vs. ChiropracTIC”. As previously mentioned, I believe that there are very good ChiropracTORS out there. I believe, however that there are many aspects of ChriropraTIC that need to be addressed and/or exposed.

Here are some of the less desirable aspects of certain scopes of Chiropractic

1. Everybody is a candidate for manipulation: There is an undeniable trend in Chiropractic towards manipulating everybody – even hypermobile or osteoporotic individuals and children.

2. The subluxation factor: Many DC’s believe and convince patients that subluxations (when vertebrae are out of position) are a primary cause of disease and dis-ease and need to be treated. Most PT’s believe chiropractic subluxations to be a diagnostic apparition – a ruse to keep patients waling through the door to treat an invisible disease.

3. Treating diseases: There is a significant cross section of Chiro’s who claim that they can treat a wide variety of medical issues through their treatments. There is no convincing evidence that chiropractic makes your “organs function better” nor has it ever been shown to manage diabetes, asthma, blood pressure or menstrual pain better than a control group of a different intervention or sham manipulation.

4. Selling products, cleanses and Nutritional counseling beyond their scope: Many DC’s pad their pocketbooks by selling herbal remedies, providing nutritional counseling or by providing other services in which they are not fully qualified to do.

5. The Lifetime patient: Many DC’s will recommend “maintenance” adjustments whereby patients are encouraged to come in for frequent adjustments to continue to be “healthy”. The aforementioned “subluxation” argument is usually cited as the rationale for continued treatment.

6. Treating children: Selling parents on treating their children is a dubious tactic that some DC use. There is no substantive evidence that chiropractic improves the outcome of colic, nor does it cure bedwetting or digestive issues.

What about neck manipulation and strokes?

This area is a topic in and of itself so I won’t delve too deeply into it. In summary, the risk of stroke through cervical manipulation is very small. I can’t provide a risk/benefit commentary as I’m intimately familiar with the literature.

My off-the-cuff opinion?

Chiropractic is generally safe and the risk of stroke, although real – is likely overblown by overzealous MD’s and PT’s.

Getting the best of both worlds – a summary

• Like any profession, the practitioner is only as good as he/she’s dedication to continuing education and mastery of their profession and dedication to helping patients.
• Choose or refer practitioners that strive to stay on the cutting edge of science and those that exercise themselves and have a deep understanding of movement.
• PT doesn’t have the same stigma attached to it as does chiropractic, although PT’s could do a better job overall with patient care and satisfaction. Part of this disconnect may be because Chiro’s don’t have much in the way of a medical-based referral system.
• Look for a PT that is certified in manipulative therapy and that is “hands on” vs. modality-based. Find one with specializations related to the dysfunction or condition that you are your referral is struggling with.
• Steer clear of PT’s who treat only based on algorithms and formulas and who relies too much on modalities and cookie-cutter exercises.
• Choose a DC that is evidence-based and one with an interest in having patients “leave the nest” rather than create a dependence.
• Steer clear of “subluxationist” chiro’s and anyone who sells supplements or herbal remedies.
• Ask around, do your homework and find the best practitioner to suit your needs.

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Mike Howard is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based personal trainer, writer and educator – specializing in fat loss and corrective exercise.  He is a regular contributor to Diet Blog (www.diet-blog.com) and has been published in several other local and national publications.  Mike has also taught personal training certification courses and is a continuing education provider for trainers.  For more information visit www.coreconceptswellness.com

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References:

1. Koes BW, Assendelft WJ, van der Heijden GJ, et al. Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Spine. 1996;21:2860-2873.
2. Glover JR, Morris JG, Khosla T. Back pain: a randomized clinical trial of rotational manipulation of the trunk. Br J Ind Med. 1974;31:59-64.
3. Triano JJ, McGregor M, Hondras MA, et al. Manipulative therapy versus education programs in chronic low back pain. Spine. 1995;20:948-955.
4. Cherkin DC, Deyo RA, Battie M, et al. A comparison of physical therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and provision of an educational booklet for the treatment of patients with low back pain. N Engl J Med. 1998;339:1021-1029.
5. Santilli V, Beghi E, Finucci S. Chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion: a randomized double-blind clinical trial of active and simulated spinal manipulations. Spine J. 2006;6:131-137.
6. Olafsdottir E, Forshei S, Fluge G, et al. Randomised controlled trial of infantile colic treated with chiropractic spinal manipulation. Arch Dis Child. 2001;84:138-141
7. Hondras MA, Long CR, Brennan PC. Spinal manipulative therapy versus a low force mimic maneuver for women with primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, observer-blinded, clinical trial. Pain. 1999;81:105-114.
8. Reed WR, Beavers S, Reddy SK, et al. Chiropractic management of primary nocturnal enuresis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1994;17:596-60
9. Kukurin GW. Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation. A prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2002;25:540-541.
10. Walsh MJ, Polus BI. A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial on the efficacy of chiropractic therapy on premenstrual syndrome. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1999;22:582-585.
11. Goertz CH, Grimm RH, Svendsen K, et al. Treatment of hypertension with alternative therapies (THAT) study: a randomized clinical trial. J Hypertens. 2002;20:2063-2068.

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Feature item for this post: Magnificent Mobility