I am going to riff freestyle for a bit --- as i have been sicker than i have in a long while for some reason recently
I did not have the flu --- but as i complained about in my last post -- i had something going on that decimated my very meager base i was trying to build up
Please -- Please -- stay in your seats - dont call me a hero or anything - LOL --- it was just a mess. My last workout was on a treadmill.
I watched the majority of Total Recall while toiling away and sweating slowly
It was at that point that i thought of the wide chasm between the elites among us, and guys like me
------ Michael Jordan was dealing with the flu and a fever
Jordan was obviously already a legend --- but my meager illness reminded me of the difference between the haves and have nots to some extent ----- If i am running at 102 degrees, i am under the blankets, - catching up on a whole season of Longmire or Hell on Wheels on Netflix, and am pretty much useless to anybody until its over
That just happened to me, --- but i thought of Jordan in that iconic game
So we're not all Mike Jordan - so what
How many times do you get sick enough to eat into your work or training a year ? - Once? Twice?
We are under attack more often than that and chances are for every illness that takes - our immune system has fought off 10 others. Some of the things we still need to keep squared away are things we hear all the time ---- wash the hands as regularly as you can - eat clean- avoid food that is handled excessively (any fast food) -- its not a conspiracy theory
Put your body in the best position it can be in to fight off foreign invaders in the form of nastiness that will make us sick
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Popular nutrition theories
Fruit tastes good right?
Bananas are good - apples are good -- kiwi is good - oranges are ....... well, oranges are a lot of work - they really make you earn it, with the peeling and all that
But i was asked -- "Can i eat a banana?" 
Where the heck did we come from where now in 2015, bananas are bad ? I have heard some bull-spit from popular trainers about not eating fruit --
Its because to the uninformed, fruit looks like a source of sugar that is not needed ------- so keep eating bacon sandwiches and roast beef i guess
A little truth
Yes --- when your diet is buttoned down tight, a banana or a kiwi(3 or 4 kiwis - hard to eat just 1) - does have some natural sugars --- and will probably blow a hole in an Atkins type program
--- but ---
my suggestion ------- eat a nice handful of almonds, cashews, or a scoop of peanut butter everytime you eat a piece of sweet fruit.
You throw some protein and diet essential fats on top of the fruits to balance you out a bit so you dont get a sugar crash in 2 hours.
Keeping everything in balance seems like a rational plan, right?
Fruits are our friends , not our enemies ---- just keep some nuts and seeds or even a scoop of peanut butter around to counteract them and not send you towards a minor insulin dump
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Another moderate rant that has come across me again - is a nice guy i met who was "cross training" recently
--- problem is, i met him at a bike shop -- he was talking about all the rigorous cycling he had been doing
Cycling is awesome - As many have already surmised ---- my primary sport is cycling and thats how i identify myself (in the sporting world that is - most importantly, i am a guy trying to take care of my home, family, and friends ---- cycling be darned) --
So no problem right? - But the guy advised he was trying to "build up his wind a bit" so he could run in one of the local charity half marathons
WTF? WTF? ------ I like competitive cycling but im not too stupid to realize that you do not play a tuba to prepare for playing the clarinet
This poor gent needed to be worshipping at the altar of Jim Fixx, Frank Shorter and others instead of spinning his wheels on his Trek
This is about the 5th time in the past year i have heard this nonsense ----
Yes, cross training is a very real principle -- and yes, it is good stuff ---- but again, - if you want to run 13.1 miles (or 10k, 5k etc) and look good doing it -- dump the bicycle and lace up some made in the USA New BAlance 990's for goodness sakes -- and just go for a run -- and then a few more after that
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Product Reviews
Every so often i encounter products that have the potential to be "game changers" --- i thought i would occasionally try to get a little more exposure for these things bv bringing in some reviews ----
In this case, i am reviewing a couple of items that i have absolutely no affiliation with and paid for out of my own pocket ---- i also note that these are products that are easy to get and are out there at somewhat normal retailers for the most part ------ you dont have to be a part of some secret club to partake
First up is Royal Sport whey protein powder --- check the label , it is 100 calories per 20 grams of protein -------- I know i was talking earlier about carbs vs proteins and fats as it relates to fruit --- but for a lot of us, we dont need to pack in a ton of extra calories along with our twice daily shake uptake or meal replacement
-- we just need to take in some calories every 3 hours or so to keep the internal furnace stoked up
This stuff fills the bill
Nutritionally, you dont have half the calories without leaving something on the table for sure, but in this case, i'll take the compromise in the case of a higher protein percentage
The new /improved blender bottle is on my list now too ------ you see a pic of the stackable one next to the original animal above , plus a pic of the new one with the little individual compartments separated out
Its pretty simple ---- I have my cup -- a removable container for a scoop or 2 of Royal Sport, one for NO-XPlode, and one for a big fistful of almonds as well as a little spin on cup for my chewable multi's and all the Glucosamine tablets i take per day
Customize the contents however you see fit, and for whatever your needs may be --- but this works , and im over the moon about it as i formerly toted around either small ziploc baggies or small rubbermaid containers around to do essentially the same thing, but less conveniently ---- 2 of these blender bottle stacks can fuel you with enough protein, pre-workout, and munchies , -- not to mention vitamins and headache remedies -- to get through a day
The only downside is the new segmented drink cup is 16 oz., while the original tall Blender Bottle is 24 oz or so --------
Royal Sport is available online or at GNC --- the Blender Bottles are at a lot of different places - i got these at Sams Club , but may be available at Costco, Target , etc -- places like that
Thanks for the support all, and thanks for reading again
have fun and stay fit
------- A shout out goes to my insurance industry friends who are now in the Northeast corridor of the nation dealing with the blizzard aftermath -----
watch your diet, carry a cooler, take naps when you can, and try to knock out some decent training blocks on the hotel equipment when you can
Just a quick reminder, if you like what you read, forward this email to a friend, or use the little tab at the bottom to link it to your facebook page.
Thank you very much in advance for your support and send me an email at Dougmcbride@fitclaimspro.com to be added to the hard subscriber list
---- Doug
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disclaimer: The information contained here is not intended to replace the medical advice of your physician and is not intended as medical advice. This newsletter/blog is a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of the staff of Fitclaimspro.com and professional colleagues unless otherwise noted
