Nike Free Shoes - Bad for basketball, Great for everything else.

Last Saturday I got a new pair of shoes. I love new shoes and I especially love these ones. I had heard about these "Nike Free" shoes, bought into the hype and took the plunge. The idea is that it's as close to being barefoot as possible and I'd say they got pretty damn close. Great for walking around or training in...helps with postural alignment and the like. Check out the site at http://www.nikefree.com for models and the science behind the technology. Whenever I have them on (which is almost always) I get this insatiable urge to either run or jump no matter where I am. They definitely get a recommendation from me to anyone looking to get a new pair of kicks. Unfortunately, I was so excited by my new shoes I wanted to test them out playing basketball during last night's intramurals.

I was on the fast break, two men...boys...in front of me, I faked going to the middle and cut hard to the basket...was fouled, planted my foot and was reminded of that beautiful, horrible pain/feeling as my entire foot/ankle went over. Lesson learned.

Upcoming Seminar In London Ontario - Look Great, Perform Better

Below is information regarding a training and nutrition seminar in London, Ontario on February 3rd, 2007. Should be a great time for trainers, coaches and active individuals to learn and network. It's a great opportunity for Canadians to see Dr. John Berardi speak, which everyone should do at least once.


Join us for an upcoming 1 day seminar in London Ontario for the benefit of the UWO Women's Fastpitch Softball Team.

Where:
Somerville House, Room 3345
The University of Western Ontario
click here for maps

When:
February 3rd, 2007
9:30am - 5pm

What:
Learn the latest information on training and nutrition as well as how to apply these methods to attain optimal results.

Topics include:

Is nutrition important for appearance/performance?
Optimal training/exercise program design
Food/exercise suggestions specifically for women
Training and nutrition for body transformation – How to look and feel your best in your clothes or on the beach.
Nutrition/training from an athlete’s perspective
Nutrition/training from a coach's perspective – Performance based programs

Who:
Keynote speakers include:
John Berardi, PhD, CSCS, President of Science Link
Jane Rumbal, PhD Candidate, 2006 World Rowing Gold Medalist
Jude St John, Toronto Argonaut Offensive Lineman, CFL All-Star
John Allan, BA, BEd, Olympic Throws and Team Coach
Peter Lemon, PhD, Director, Exercise Nutrition Research Laboratory, UWO
Maria Mountain, MSc, CSCS, Owner of Revolution Sport Conditioning
Lucinda Benton, PT, World Class Natural Bodybuilder

Cost:
$59/person (Earlybird price)

To Register:
Send your name, contact info, and a cheque made out to UWO Women's Fastball to:

Dr P Lemon
2212 3M Centre
University of Western Ontario
London ON N6A3K7

Questions:
uwofb@hotmail.com

It's For Charity:
Proceeds to support the UWO Women’s Fastpitch Softball Team - a team that recently won both league and Ontario Provincial Championships. As as a non-funded sport at Western, the women's fastball program must raise considerable funding on their own. So you can learn lots of new information and support a good cause.

Treat Your Body Like Your Car.

I'm spotting someone at work today on the bench press, he's doing about 115lbs for 12-15 as part of a circuit. It's my second go spotting him, first time he got 15 no problem. This time I help him a bit to get to 12. As he pops up off the bench after racking it he rubs his shoulder a bit and says;

"My shoulder always gives out after a while, like it's weaker than the other shoulder."

After a short interrogation I got it out of him that he suffered the injury in a rugby game 2 YEARS AGO. Not only that but his "diagnosis" was by a personal trainer who used to train his girlfriend in her home. Not exactly someone I would trust to diagnose a potentially serious injury. The actual diagnosis?

"A rotator cuff injury, just one of those things that may take a long time to heal on it's own."

Lets recap the situation.

-You've got an injury that is several years old and you haven't gotten it looked at by a professional. And unless your girlfriend's in-home trainer is Eric Cressey, Mike Robertson or Bill Hartman, they are not qualified to assess this type (or any really) of injury.

-You are not rehabbing it.

-You are not doing prehab work so it doesn't reoccur.

-It's still not getting any better after 2 years.

Obviously during the conversation I'm suggesting to this guy he either be doing some kind of work/training to fix it if he knows what it is or to get it checked out so that it doesn't cause more serious problems down the road. Especially considering this guy is in off-season training wanting to make the varsity soccer team next year.

The human body is like one of those giant dominoes arrangements where when you knock down that first dominoe it sets off a chain reaction where they all tumble down in a fantastically fun display. Well when that first dominoe falls in the human body, in this case a shoulder injury, it's not so fun to watch what happens over time because that one injury will cause a progressive decline in surrounding or connected tissues/joints/etc. which is a recipe for disaster.

I think it finally hit him when I used my car analogy again as I often like to use in comparison with the human body. We as people often neglect our own bodies and health while we spend countless dollars and hours on maintaining and fixing up our material possessions such as our vehicles. If your headlight went out would you wait 2 years to fix it? If you've got sparks shooting out the ass of your car because your muffler is dragging would you wait 2 years to fix that?

So, in this instance treat your body like you'd treat your car......unless you're cheap.

Questions? Comments? jdford@gmail.com

Getting Started.

So this is my first blog posting on my resurrected fitness/nutrition blog. I'll be sure to update this bad boy at least once a week from now on. I've made it a goal for the new year, the more useful information I can pass onto the masses the better. Keep checking back for postings by myself on the topics of the expansive topics of fitness and nutrition, life and everything in between. I will also be posting fantastic articles by others that I come across.

On the topic of "Getting Started" I would like to make a few comments.

It's roughly three weeks into the new year and you're either well on your way to washboard abs and arms that make the women weak at the knees or your knees have been skinned to the bone because you've fallen off the wagon. Hey, don't fret. It happens to the best of us. Below are 5 tips to help keep you on track if you're still in the drivers seat, or disinfectant and gauze for your bloody knees.

#1 - Surround yourself with supportive people. If you hang out with a bunch of alcoholics would you be likely to succeed in a bid to quit drinking? Probably not. So if you're surrounding yourself with people who are constantly trying to sabotage your efforts, are jealous or just plain don't understand or appreciate your efforts to better yourself....get rid of them....or if it's your in-laws just try to visit less. Constant encouragement and somebody to be accountable too (Yes hun, I DID go for my walk today.) will pick you up and carry you on the days your adherence legs want to quit on you.

#2 - Set yourself up for success. Keep a blog or journal of your food intake and workouts. This again is accountability. If you make your blog public that's taking it to another level, exposing the world to the commitment you're making. Who's going to have less guilt on their shoulders when they fail or are a let down...the President of a country or the president of a chess club? Plan ahead. Schedule your workouts for the week in advance and stick to your schedule. Don't just decide at the end of the work/school day if you've got enough energy or time to bust your ass. It's not likely to happen. Prepare food for the week in advance. Keep your fridge/pantry stocked with the RIGHT foods to last you as long as you require. If you're going to eat an apple a day for a week and you go and only buy 4 apples how much sense does that make? Make it easy on yourself.

#3 - Stay positive. Positive thoughts and negative thoughts cannot co-exist in your flawed human mind. Walk around like you already fit in those size 6 jeans. (But please don't wear them yet if you're not quite there.) Be confident, know that you CAN do it. You CAN hit that last rep. You CAN resist those snacks in the lunch room. For most people it's as simple as choosing to be happy...same applies here. Choose to be optimistic. Don't get down on yourself if you cheat or stray from your daily plan...the world is not lost...take it as a learning experience. How can you prevent that slip from happening next time? Smile. Smile during your entire workout...you'll end up making yourself laugh and everyone else around think you're crazy.

#4 - Don't let a cheat or missed workout completely derail you. It's entirely too easy to let one missed meal, chocolate chip cookie or skipped workout to turn into 2 meals a day, a bag of chocolate chip cookies and no workouts for 2 weeks. GET RIGHT BACK ON THE WAGON. It is a cheap, poor, weak excuse to let a single mistake sabotage your goals. The wagon does not keep going when you fall off...it's still there waiting for you to climb back on. Ate a cookie? Do some interval training. Missed a meal? Prepare stringently for the rest of the week to ensure it doesn't happen again. Missed a workout? Don't just skip it altogether, get it done...fit it in somewhere, anywhere.

#5 - Don't fall prey to analysis paralysis. All too often trainees of all training ages get caught up in the plethora of training information out there and change/alter their workouts and nutrition programs more often than Britney Spears....changes...errr...wears underwear. People start focusing on the latest and greatest and to a greater extent the minutiae when they should be focusing on the basics and succeeding with their current program. KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. It's okay to have interest in the latest fitness/nutrition information but you have to learn to stick to something for a long period of time. In a recent conversation with coach Mike Demeter he said something along the lines of;

"You really do have to stick to something for a long time...longer than you would think."

Point being...trying a program out for 2 weeks and deciding it isn't working is a lame excuse. How was your diet during those 2 weeks? Your adherence to the program? Oh, well, I had to skip a couple workouts because I was too sore...and I couldn't eat that much because I didn't have time...sound familiar? Your lack of progress is due in no part to the efficacy of the program but because you're a lazy ass.


Keep things in perspective. Make time for yourself. You deserve to be healthy and happy. Have a great 2007!

Questions? Comments? jdford@gmail.com