Going freestyle - plus some reviews

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

After not working out for 10 or so days,  it was a triumph to pump out 90 minutes on a treadmill.

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 

New BAlance 990- shoes for America's team

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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  

 Its darn hard to evaluate a protein powder without a laboratory as a protein powder generally does not do anything weird.  IT is not like a pre-workout powder , or a caffeine pill -- it is a supplement designed to provide a need in place of real food    ----   but it is a helpful tool to keep you away from McDonalds and Slim Jims when on long solo road trips ,  -- when even Funyuns and Reeses peanut butter cups sound good

      This stuff is available in a few different flavors ----  and while i normally think its pathetic to try to take in dessert at every meal like its our birthright,  i have to admit, the Cinnabon and Chocolate Cupcake flavors i have tried are just as tasty as my former favorite  (BSN Syntha 6 ) - with half the calories  
               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

 LAst but not least is my little smell good friend  -- he fills my kitchen with good smells - plus i like owls ---   i have no idea where this came from, but its pretty cool




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

--- Just a piece of junk corporate shill !

AAAAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!


Its Mid February and i havent been writing !!!

Funny thing is,  i've had plenty of time on my hands  ----  i am on the mend from a massive bacterial infection that wiped out about 2 weeks of good work that should have happened

------   I do not know what causes a bacterial infection specifically --- but there are some real all-stars under that umbrella -  Strep, Staph, Meningitis, --- that is some Big Time, Big Boy Nasty ---

Trouble is -- i am behind -- Way behind on my base cycling miles now ---  and for me in my current condition ,  base miles are ultra important

This rant is cycling related because there are a couple of PA's nvolved (personal appearamces)


For those of you who dont know , i was slated to lead out some group rides through the Moab "Brand" trails as part of Outerbike MArch 12-15  --- these are flatter trails without a ton of climbing but with enough downhills to make things cook a bit

This ride will be epic , with or without my involvement , -- and i may make it there to run the tap for the kegstand contest,  --- but my current fitness pretty much means i will be doing shuttled downhill runs primarilly

That said -- check it out --- all the major  manufacturers will be there with demo rides for everyone -- food and beverages (ALL beverages ) are included in your buy in (175 bucks) --- if you dont need the demo rides, its cheaper --- but to get a shot at all the best from Yeti, Specialized, Ibis, Niner, Giant, Santa Cruz, Trek and many more  --- for a few bucks is pretty cool

Outerbike Spring

                         Heidi wants to see you here !!!

             You need to go a few times before you settle in for backgammon and Tony Bennett for the last few years




My physical condition is still a living, breathing entity (basically,  I'm still sick) -- im not driving to Moab in the midst of full Stroke Cane symptoms if i still have no base miles - otherwise -- i will die -- LOL   ---  but i have another date in April we can all hook up at the Sea Otter  -- This is April 16-19
Sea Otter

The Sea Otter is the somewhat official spring kickoff to the season -- for the domestic road, and mountain bike season ----  while Outerbike is primarilly a mountain bike event,   Sea Otter caters to all of us --- and i dont care what aspect of the sport you roll with, the dual slalom course is usually sick


  Some great pics below  --- including an aerial of the DS course --- but for the most part, you will get many many opportunities to blow your lungs wide open here  ----

--------------   you might need a few base miles -- but heck, its almost 2 months away ---

Plenty of chicks at Sea Otter too  --- but you likely wont pick up any of them --- just come armed with your fitness high and expectations low

             Other than  this --- i will try to get back with some regularly scheduled straight talk  (I have been compared to Oprah)   very soon  --- but there will not be an IpadAir under your seat or anything



If you like bikes  -- make it to Outerbike or Sea Otter!   Ride lots, relax lots , and drink lots -- we will discuss reversing these horrible sins later ! -- LOL,   but im thinking 25 or 30 miles a day on dirt will cancel out a lot of ills

 

Bust out of the wintertime blues

Dont get bummed out prematurely


Some of you are 3 weeks into your New Year's resolutions

Some of you never really stopped , but winter can bring with it a case of the doldrums that is sometimes hard to shake even for motivated pro's

For those just slinking back into the gym or coming in after a long layoff,  --- you likely have already experienced the over-exuberance of those first 2 workouts , and the resulting 4 or 5 days of soreness afterwards

   Or you hit the track, trails or treadmill, and were disappointed that the numbers weren't rolling by as quickly as they did a few years ago


Don't despair -- it happens

Discipline is forged when you struggle past the weak spots and find triumph in what would formerly be mundane

If you deadlift 200 pounds -- be happy.    It may not be as much as you did when you were in college, or were 25 y/o etc etc,  --- but you just pulled 200 pounds straight off the ground -- not bad

    Dont be dejected if it takes you 11 minutes to run a mile, and the thought of running 2 or even 3 seems like an insurmountable task
    --- You just ran a mile   -- sure, not in the same time as you did when you were in the service, or when you were in high school track, --- but you did it.   See if you can add a quarter mile in a week if your working on a mileage goal

Life is a journey -- embrace it -- your goals should always be in the back of your mind ,  but get some enjoyment out of the little things
  ---after all, before you can ever run 6.2 miles, -- you must first be able to run one

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Shake Things Up 

For the most part , my musings and rantings are not geared towards professional athletes , and i think most can see that when they read enough of my entries, -- but we do have a handful that stop by every once in a while  -- so i try to give everyone some take aways

One point someone mentioned to me while speaking directly about motivation is to not be afraid to use material things as a slump buster --- this won't fix serious problems in anyone's program, ---- but it can be as simple as trying a new pair of shoes you like, -- or maybe getting a short guest membership at a different gym in a different part of town for a couple of weeks  ----

Personally,  I've been dabbling occasionally at a somewhat local BMX track with an overgrown adult size bmx bike lately --- I'm 43 years old, so this may sound preposterous ,  -- but let me break it down --- I go from resting heart rate to very close to max HR in 45 seconds , --- then when my heart rate gets back down to 115 or so , i do it again  (one lap taking roughly 45 seconds) -

- multiply those efforts times 6 or 10, -- and that sounds an awful lot like an interval session doesnt it?   ----  Thats because if we were doing anything else to do that, it would be an interval session

      disclaimer: i do have a previous (although limited) background in that sport - i wouldn't recommend BMX to everybody -- but its a fun way to get in a session if you have a suitable bike and a track close enough to use

    Take an indoor rowing class if there is one in your area --- that will also get you out of your comfort zone real quick

Lots of ways to shake things up if you need to


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Keep a journal

I know a ton of people who do not do this  --  But if its wintertime and the spirit is weak, -- you need every tool at your disposal to succeed

First off -- if you have modified your diet in any way ,  this should be mandatory

Whether its adding calories, cutting calories, trying a new system (like paleo) -- or anything else,  you should keep a record of what you eat and the effect it has on you

Do certain foods make you sleepy?  Give you digestive issues? Toss and turn at night?

NArrow em down and weed em out  ---

As well, if your trying to reduce calories, keeping a journal of everything you put in your mouth keeps you accountable.    It also makes it easier to calculate your tally at the end of the day.
    If its stuff you'd be embarrassed to show a trainer, - do you really need to be eating it?

Its also sobering to munch down on a 2 pack of oatmeal cream pies , then look at the nutrition label and realize you just wolfed down 340 calories

--- Doesnt 5 oz of lean sirloin and some veggies sound more satisfying than that ?  Thats also about 340-350 calories if you select hand trimmed cuts of meat carefully.  ---

All you need is a small spiral notebook  ---

 for example, - i write down what i eat,  - the good the bad and the ugly.   I write down what type of exercise i engaged in that day  ---i dont really break it down to the sets and reps - but i jot down what the basic exercises performed were

 --- i also take note of my nap times, plus how much sleep i got the night before -- if my sleep time is lagging, i'd like to get to the bottom of it too

You decide what goes in, its your journal --- but jotting everything down can help keep you more focused on what you need to do on any particular day

__________________________________________________________________


Thanks for reading again --

2 or 3 people have told me that my blog is hard to get to --- i dont know - i also CC myself with every blog submission and dont find it too painful --- but if anybody has any suggestions on a better blog server -- i am all ears

I am also seeking help in updating and revamping our website ---  fitclaimspro.com   -- I havent done much it, because honestly, a month or so after i started this blog -- the blog has gotten much more traction than the website.  (although there is a link to the blog page on the website)

    --- But i've got some goals with the new year too, and revamping the site and putting more emphasis on it is a small one--- i'm just not a very good webpage developer, --- but if you or someone you know happens to be good at that stuff -- hit me up and i guarantee you will be richly rewarded with the coin of the spirit !


Drop me a line if you wish at  Dougmcbride@fitclaimspro.com

_____________________________________________________________________

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

   

New YEars Eve --- Here's to an incredible 2015 !

New YEars Eve  --- 9 pm


While some of you are running around with Chex Mix crumbs on your face and 1/2 full drink glasses in your hands,  i am pounding out a few words


I really wanted to get this in before midnight for symbolic reasons

Purpose of this is to simply thank the FCP faithful for their readership, tips, techniques --- and in some cases, criticism

Its been a somewhat wild year and its hard to go over all the ups n downs in one end of year summary --- but let me say, it has been a year of growth and great experiences

    As of now, we're not public, so if you receive this blog, you are a part of the core readership and i appreciate you for that
    The growth has been good , -- with no external advertisement - no facebook forwarding - no nothing---
   This is by choice.  
        The 'ol figurehead of  FitClaimsPro.com is not ready for public consumption unless someone decides to share through word of mouth ---    I am chock full of personal failings and flaws myself and everyday, i deal with the same or more struggles that everyone else does, -- and i never thought of this as much above a private venture

--but that said

              For those who have spread the word and shared this labor of love through email, Facebook, Instagram, etc -----  I thank you so much.   It is so cool that some of you have faith that this can venture a bit beyond a small , private consultation venture !


This New Years Eve and the day, -- i wish you luck and the discipline to be true to yourselves.  

In the coming year,  ------ be strong, rely on your knowledge and training and if you need a little extra support, love , and an ear to bend ---- we will be here


In extending my gratitude and thanks --- i also want to encourage you to seek us out when you need to

            I am ready for 2015 to get fired up so we can address more challenges - vanquish more enemies, and climb more of our personal mountains!


   Again --- thank you --- and may God's blessings shine on all of us throughout the upcoming new year and beyond



Happy New Year folks ------  time to kick it off and celebrate in a slightly irresponsible manner !  ;)




   

Its that time of year again

December 26, (this time around its 2014)


One more big festival night, then its time to tighten up the 'ol belt and get serious with those resolutions right?

I have  spoken of this earlier in the year ,  but in case you didnt get it , here's the link

Re-set the meter - Then peg the meter !!

So you didnt take my advice from September to heart and start in on that pesky "resolution" early, huh?   (Some of you did, - i got the feedback   :)  thanks for charging hard)

No matter

I'm not big on encouraging the setting of resolutions per se',   but the setting of short term and long term goals can be done at any time ---   IF its done around NEw Years, that is characteristically called a "resolution"
      Around this time last year, i also covered the fact that 80% of well meaning resolution setters begin breaking them within a month, and by March, those P90X DVD's and gym membership cards are already starting to gather dust  ----  the gym reverts back to the 20 or 30 muscleheads who are always there, week in and week out.


     What's your 'ol trackie here planning on doing as far as New Years Resolutions?

Although i have already stated that the idea of a New Years Resolution is fundamentally flawed, i will add this one thing that i will be striving for --

-its a big one, yet a small one too

MODERATION

Yes, this new years i will be striving for even more moderation

Moderation in drink, late nights , "dumb decisions"  - over training , under training, - counting calories, being a nutrition nazi

Whatever the sin, you can moderate it -------  Your New Years party does not have to be "Paleo Perfect"  - loosen up -- its one day - you have 360+ to show your discipline ---  that doesnt mean to shotgun the margarita mix followed by the Cuervo -- that is not moderation.
      Moderation just means its ok to have a couple of cocktails on a holiday, ----- or on occasion, stay in bed for a couple more hours on a weekend and watch some TV  with the spouse


             If you currently have a late night lifestyle that rivals Mickey Rourke's  , you are probably not going to dial it down to the level of a competitive Olympic level athlete,  -- but make small changes

strive to go to bed a bit earlier , - Be a bit nicer to the people you care about,  watch the booze, and pick a day to enjoy your food ! --- But spend another 4 or 5 being disciplined -- depending on your needs

Most of my readership is comfortably in the "Masters Category"  (above 30)  and i have a tip that might sound a bit odd, or even unobtainable to many -
  -- but for the past 6 months or so, i have been fairly diligent about adhering to a nap schedule when i can as well

          This doesnt fit into everyone's schedule to be sure --- but if it does, please reap the benefits.    I drive a ton -- and i have pulled over at 3 pm at a rest stop or truckie stop for a little designated "Me Time"
     I throw in some ear plugs put on a mask (much like an eyeless Lone Ranger mask ) -- and then Hi-Yo Silver ! Lay the seat back and snooze for a bit

   
      If your just tuning in ,  check some of my previous blog entries,  but if you've been on board for a while,  you know that i try to speak out for the harried, the flawed, the excuse makers, and the binge diet failures
       -------  these are common maladies when you have a schedule that is written in Erasermates and you have to be up for any malady ----You have to be there for your customers , internal or external ,  and they do not give a flip about any of this stuff i am talking about --- they just want you there with a minimum of drama

                                       Again, and i will speak it in bold letters

                                                          MODERATION

We have the ticket to our own success or failure --- because as folks running our own small businesses' ,  oftentimes we make the schedule.

    If we can't manage time for rest, exercise, and proper nutrition -- we may be able to wrangle another 15-20k per year out of the time we are saving by burning the candle at both ends --- but are we saving anything by making a deal with the devil?

           
One last time --- for my New years  DECLARATION, -- (not a weak kneed and pitiful resolution) -- I will be practicing moderation

           epilogue:  resolution, declaration, moderation   --  all words that end with "tion"


In short -- put down the martini glass, the PBR, or the plate of brisket and kick this mess straight in the ass and rejoice while you follow a better schedule and get plenty of rest !


Thanks all

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

       



         

Work smarter !........ not harder (myth for today)

Work smarter !  -- Not harder !


I love this slogan -- and who wouldnt'?    Just bone up on the procedures , --- make some sensible choices , then reap the benefits!

On the flip side, we have all heard the tales of woe from the sorry sacks who do it the other way

Maybe someone gets smug satisfaction from "working smarter"   --- but the guy in the 12 hour cycling marathon with ruptured blisters in bad places and blood running into his cycling shoes because his previous longest ride is a trivial 5 hours is laughing at you

       Work smarter?  -- I like that.  --- But i think working smarter opens up more opportunities to work harder !

          What is the allure of anabolics? -- Why do "steroids" work ?  EPO , etc etc ?  
Its not like these substances allow  you to pop a pill, then sit on the couch  for 3 months watching The Family Guy , -- then you can win your club championship or local physique competition

                   These substances work because they mute and blunt your natural inclinations to stop -- and they encourage what would previously have been over training and push you further
   ----
   No --- you will not get much effect on a 3 day, 35 minute a sesh program when you're on the juice  ----  You will receive some benefit to be sure as long as you dont get fat,  but the pandora's box of gains gets tripped when you are training 15-20 hours a week, and getting plenty of rest

Was it Thomas Jefferson who said  "The harder i work, the luckier i seem to get"  ??


                 Lets take your job for an example - and bear with me ----    You're the type of guy with a  a parrot at home -- your a Jimmy Buffet uber fan and you love to let loose at 4:30 on Friday -you and mother value your alone time          -   -- but your also pretty good at your job and you hate to see youngsters get promoted ahead of you ---

--------   Your big opportunity to get the corner office comes up -- but guess what??

All of a sudden, your making an extra 17k a year,  but you have to work a couple of Saturdays a month ,  and 4:45 happy hours are a thing of the past.    You also wear clothes to the office you formerly thought were "too stuffy" ,  instead of a "YOLO Man,"  or "LEgalize It !"  sweatshirt and dungarees

   Congratulations!!!     You got what you wanted   ----

But guess what?    -- The concept of "Work smarter, not harder"  - is completely gone now -- you are simply going to have to work hard

   You have a sweet lease on a Buick Enclave now,   so long 8 year old Hyundai

 and you and the missus are contemplating moving to a bigger pad in a better part of town, --

To this                                                                        From this

- but deep down, you liked the rut you were stuck in and working harder makes you uncomfortable  -- a "sell out"

Let mediocrity slide over you like death's cold embrace as you take a lesser position across town with less stress   -- its too embarrassing to ask for your old job back when you fail

You just got sucked in by the   "Work smarter, not harder"  mystique

Guess what?   --- There are not many free lunches out there 

Tom Brady   --- he's a fun guy for "regular guys"  to make sport of because on the outside looking in, his life looks perfect

    A recent SI article details Brady's routine    -------    Brady succeeds because he is more boring than you ----  he is more dedicated than you , ---   10 generations of his offspring are taken care of , --- but still , the guy wakes up unhappy and wanting to improve every day

Hours in the film room , hours of drills and practice as well as base fitness work.       Beatiful wife?  Beautiful house?   ---  Who gives a flip  ---  This is the business we've chosen, -- and Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck and Peyton are also working just as hard 

I'll admit i'm not much of a pro football fan, although i keep up with my alma mater in college -- but i'll switch gears and reference a couple of guys' i'm much more familiar with

Arnold Schwarzenneger and Lance Armstrong

In their respective disciplines, - these guys would stop at nothing to dominate their sports, -- despite already having a genetic leg up on most of their competition

    Arnie was an immigrant -- he overcame the language barrier and used his early bodybuilding winnings to invest in real estate  and was reportedly a several times over millionaire before he even made his first movie back in the 70's    --

              --- The work ethic instilled in growing up modestly and then overcoming language barriers carried over and gave the guy a tenacity to succeed that other competitors with more comfortable backgrounds didnt have

Lance Armstrong --- yes, the guy has some very serious personality flaws -he turned into a megalomaniac  -- But in his prime , nobody put in more time than he did.    He was the highest paid guy, sure, but he also put in more work  , more research and more obsessive detail

        The result was 7 Tour de France wins  

Yes, we all know the rest of the story, and he does have a ton of personality issues,  but i do believe the playing field was equally juiced up during that time frame   ------  If he had not tried to come back for 2 more  in 09 and 10, he would have rode off into the sunset a national hero forever

----------------------------------------------

Schwarzenneger, BRady, Armstrong -----  all big names in sport  -- all huge workaholics 

Dont be these guys   -- they have to take viagra and can't bench press their way out of a wet paper  sack

As far as the "Work smarter not harder" premise    ----   kick that crap back into the dank hole it deserves to be in and recognize that you need to 

"Work smarter --- So you can work  HARDER " 

you lazy sacks of garbage ! ( kidding about the garbage part---- or am i?) 

  -----    Prioritize your time,  put in the hours --------

      

Synergy !!!! WTF???

Last post was 10/2 -- this one is 11/4  --- That means i'm slacking a bit (but the piece from 10/2 was solid enough by my standards to last a month -- LOL - i just re-read it )

I am not a writer, but writing gives me an outlet for the things that bother me -----Evidently i havent been bothered much in the last 3/4 of a month (yeah right)

The 'ol day job - My Rock of Gibraltor and the principal financing backer  of FitClaimsPro.Com
has been busy with a lot of miles racked up

-------------    Thats good ----     My prime objective originally was to  lessen the effects of stressful day to day insurance work by applying some common sense nutrition principles

Along the way, i have discovered that my plight is one shared by many working people - long hours - lots of miles- jet lag - poor exercise facilities  -------



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When blowhardy office types try to give motivational speeches for their slack jawed interns , they use phrases like "synergy"   ---   "We have a unique synergy !! "

        Well , synergy oftentimes means the sharing of ideas --- not just to congratulate ourselves on how cool we are, but to compare, contrast, and share

                 My thoughts do not just rumble from my magnificent head, as if planted there by the Gods ---- my thoughts come from research and trial and error ---- Bill Starr is an important motivating figure for me --  lately, i really like the stance that Rippetoe  (Mark Rippetoe , Starting Strength and the Aasgaard Company ) is taking with his training principles ---- and there is new  blood(well, sorta new compared to Bill or Rip )   , like Jim Wendler - who give hope for future generations

                            Apart from my collected training volumes and teachings gleaned from years of training,  i also draw from outside influences a good bit

We all do - there are very few original ideas -- but we can apply old ideas in original ways

---- That said, i am proud to say that in addition to the other sources i draw from , i will now be referencing Dave Draper a bit  --- I also encourage my readers to drop by his website at Davedraper.com  -- it is quite a bit more advanced than my own , and i encourage  everybody to subscribe to his weekly IronOnline newsletter

           Although i consider myself a hack, -- Dave can write!    And furthermore, his  words on finding motivation to hit the iron , despite your age, weight, or circumstance -- are powerful

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On a personal level,  i almost envy people who things come easy to now at my age.

We have all heard the stories about people who just cut out their daily Snickers bar, or soda, -- and voila --- 30 excess pounds come off  just like that

Yes  Yes  --- take the stairs instead of elevators,  cut out soda ---- blah blah blah

These are low level changes that do work for some people

If you have been entrenched in bad habits for years ---- you may need to dig a little deeper though

My goal all along is to focus on whole body wellness, --- The outward presence does hinge on mental well being as well for some of us
    Sure, there are people all around us who are built like NFL Wide receivers and exist on beer and chicken wings and they still can run circles around  average 35-50 year olds, -----thats called genetics and   something nobody can get away from

    If your genetics are wonderful -- embrace life !  Rejoice and eat right

If they are not though -------  my advice is the same --- Embrace life!  Rejoice and eat right ! --- but its going to take a little more work -- and in some cases a lot more work
   

             If you have a stubborn situation - dont be afraid to make a drastic change or two to get you out of your comfort zone --- Force yourself to hit a treadmill for 20 minutes a day
 --- get a mountain bike and use it for something more than a clothes rack
 ---  join a fitness or nutrition support group so you can bounce new ideas off each other

Your not alone --- enlist your family and friends to help

 ------   If they are  not helping --- realize that not everybody shares your passion and intensity on personal betterment -- or maybe they just need to see results from you and me to get 'em on board, who knows

Its getting close close to holiday season, and for those of us who are "nutrition sensitive" ,  we have to stay en' garde , ---- but its do-able and i am hoping we can all have some fun in the upcoming 3 or 4 months !



thanks again for reading




Doug






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---- 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