Monday, April 27, 2015

Oh, the things I hear...

Q: "Look, what are we doing??  Is this going to make me a body builder?  Am I going to get BIG??"

A: Meeting a trainer once or twice per week isn't going to make you BIG, nor is a well planned program (program means nutrition as well as all elements of training appropriate for your goals). To get BIG, you need to lift in a very specific set/rep scheme for MONTHS while increasing calories.


Q: "So protein wont make me BIG and bulky?"

A: No.  Only a designed program with you following it will make you big and bulky.  Generically, failing in your sets between 8-12 reps is the sweet spot and like I said above, months on end of this scheme plus taking in an extra 500 calories (ish) of clean nutrients than your body/metabolism is already accustomed to.
The function of proteins is to help the body build an repair, not only your muscles but your hair, skin and internal organs.  Proteins are the building block for our entire body and is needed to help keep the body functioning at an optimum level.  I share this fact because too many people associate protein with the "BIG and BULKY," feeling.
It's science and facts, not opinions and feelings.  


Q: "But I work out, like, a lot, why do I look the same?"
A: Let me see your program.
Q: "I don't have it written down."
A: Then how do you know what you're doing?
Q: "Well I use this machine, then I walk for bit, then I use that machine thingy over there...

A: Anyone can buy a membership, walk in and "work out."  If you're actually trying to make changes and see real results in mirror, you need to take it more seriously.  We don't say "well... I kinda drove to work..., I pulled out, then I bumped into this, then took a random left turn, then I turned around and pulled over for a bit..." No.  We know where we're driving, so we know which streets to take to get there.  We have a plan.  And even then, sometimes to the plans need to change just as our drive to work might, but remember, just because the plan has to change, doesn't mean the goal does.
I recommend researching personal trainers in your area and purchasing a few sessions to learn a routine, learn how to use the equipment properly and figure out a plan/program.


Q: "Ya Bro, my fricking knees are killing me when I squat, whats up with that?"
A: Let's see your form.
He drops his hips, knees poke out way over his toes, his heels come off the ground, one knee is tweaking out to the side,  and he's pretty much bending over.
This didn't actually happen, but I see it CONSTANTLY.  I even have a friend that works in an NCAA D1 program and he still tells me how many freshman come in with no clue how to squat (good job HS coaches).
Without going into a 5 paragraph "how to," here's an easy test.  Walk up to a wall and place your toes about 1/2 inch away from the wall.  Now squat without touching the wall.


Speaking with a local wrestling coach
Q: Yoga?  Yeah we did that when we were younger but called it stretching."
A:  Never mind the money... I'll come in for free.  Here's the bet:  No tricks, no gimmicky crap, I bet you more of your guys quit and flop during yoga than they do during your conditioning.
Never heard back from him.
If you say "Yoga's not for me," I'd say you probably don't know what yoga is.  If you've never taken a class, you're probably intimidated or worried about "not looking cool."  If you have and still say that, I'd bet you were just in the wrong studio, wrong instructor or the wrong you showed up.  Even for you tough guys, a decent yoga class can show you many muscular imbalances that can greatly improve your training in the weight room, while improving your flexibility, concentration and overall body strength in many stabilizing muscles you may not be addressing otherwise.

(If I can get 10 power-lifters to join, I'll run a month of free sessions, around your current schedule, for a case study).  

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Devastating Family Home Fire Fund

Very little need for my set up... My opinion is this - We can donate our funds to a corporate charity where we have no clue where that money ends up and probably no actual connection to the recipients OR we can read a story like this and choose to donate a few extra dollars this month to real people that you may actually know, thatI know. 
A lot of these accounts are trying to hook someone up with start up money for a business or wedding money or something simple... this one is not that.

Please read Marty's story and lend a hand.

"My name is Marty Kobsik,  and this is my family's story and struggle against mental illness and corporate america.
My mother suffers from Mental illness.   She has suffered most of her life from manic depression and bi-polarism.   Seven and a half years ago my mother had a mental breakdown  and took 5 gallons of gasoline to my father's recliner and my sister's bed and set fire to our family home.  She walked out and sat in a lawn chair in the front yard and watched the house burn while attempting to take her life by over dosing on the cocktail of medications she was on for various health issues.  The fire actually saved her life because help showed up and found her and rushed her to the hospital.   We live out in the country and had 13 different small volunteer fire departements come to attempt to save our 150 year old farm house.  3 hours later they put the fire out but the house was a complete loss.  My parents insurance company declined to pay the insurance claim due to the fact that my mother was a named insured and it was arson.  My father contacted a law firm from Pittsburgh that was referred to us from a family friend and they got our hopes up that we had a great chance of winning a law suit.   We all got our hopes up even more when we had a judge agree that the insurance company should pay due to the fact that there was nothing in the insurance policy regarding mental state and that the insurance company should pay.  My father cashed out his retirement account and  paid every dime of it to this law firm to fight the insurance company, but insurance company having deeper pockets drug outthe suit to the point where he ran out of money and could not afford to fight them anymore after living in limbo for 3 years he had to throw the towel in.  My father is 68 now  and still working since he spent his entire 401k on lawyer fees.  We share an apartment together and for the last 4 years we've been demolishing what was left of the house ourselves and cleaning it up to hopefully start new some day.  I have been working and saving in hopes to get a construction loan to rebuild, but in today's economy with my large amounts of student loans, it is almost impossible to get a construction loan.  So my best friend suggested I try this.  My father and I have worked for everything we have and don't take advantage of "the system".  I will rebuild a home on my family's property,  my only concern is will he ever get to see it or live there.  With all the stress the last 7 years and everything we've been through, I'm not too proud to try this and ask for a little help to get my dad back on the property he raised his 3 children on and would like to spend the remainder of his time on this earth at.  So Please,  any little help is sooo appreciated and please spread the word and our story.  The Insurance company and Law Firm profitted from our misfortune, I feel my family is due a little good luck."
Link here: http://www.gofundme.com/now7sk

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Trap door in the sun...

(Just dive in... just start writing.. no clue as to what I'm about to babble, exactly, but I know what its about)

Listening to "You Know You're Right," to help set the tone and help me stay focused... so you should know, in case you're clueless as to the song, this one may not be a feel good story, but not sure.

Unsure because I want to write about a couple taboo topics that are fitting for the date, not Easter, but April 5th.
The day Kurt Cobain (1994) and Layne Staley (2002) died.  You'll read "self inflicted gun shot wound," and "heroin overdose," but not depression.

For some reason, saying "I'm depressed," is brushed off, maybe too ourselves in our heads or to whoever we may say it to.  We may look in the mirror and think it, eyes may well at times for virtually no reason... we get that ball in our throats, almost feels like a sore throat coming on, and we swallow the words down, wash our face off, put on our "costume," and move along... the costume helps us play the part of "I'm ok!" just as the smile does or the workload or whatever else we do to distract us or anyone looking our way.

Physically, it feels like someone constantly leaning on your back... like the fluids in your body are sluggish and not flowing smoothly... everything feels a little heavier, a little slower, a little less than 100 and we just feel "off."  Problem is, it builds momentum and what just felt "off," has snow-balled into a heavier load.
(I need to dive in a little deeper, so I change over to "Nutshell," by Alice in Chains and play it on repeat)
You stop seeing an optimistic "we'll figure this out," outcome in daily situations you once handled.
You doubt yourself in activities you once had confidence.
You may look to destroy your life and proclaim "I don't deserve what I have."
You look for exits from situations because the depression has given you anxiety about conversations, in with friends, and you hide away.  So you stay home and friendships dissolve.  You're probably not even productive, you just sit home,  over watching television and not taking great care of yourself.
Some people try to medicate with food or alcohol, over-eating or over-drinking, or both... some type of vice appears or escalates that helps you feel a bit of happiness, even if just temporarily, which is where the habits are born... we need to feel happy again.  You look to escape from "life."

If un-helped, a few of us tinker down a more dangerous path or more dangerous drugs, maybe prescription pills, maybe heroin or something along those lines and addictions amplify, leading to... to be honest, troubles I've never personally experienced so I can't go on too much here.  But if you listened to my podcast with Ben, you heard his money troubles... I think he knows he was real lucky.  Others have had more severe troubles, more dangerous situations, and/or death via accidental OD or suicide... you may think "not me," and you may be true, maybe not... but it could definitely be the guy next to you. There's no age requirement, sex, income... Anyone.

I'm 38 and I've had many, many friends.  Friends with money, friends with low level jobs, lawyer friends, all over... friends w many relationships, friends with few... you might think "nah, not him/her, they had so much going..." but you cant know.  You'd never know.  Just as Ben told me what an awesome liar he was at hiding his addictions and everything he was into... and man, right now I get teary eyed just thinking of our talk... because it's so scary, that someone can be right next to us and appear so happy and here, but inside, they're fading, they're hiding, they're in so much real pain... but they smile to give us the "i'm ok," bs.
"Smile when it hurts."
So when they ask for help, or show a sign, you need to start paying attention, dive in and do not let go.  They will try to distract you and throw you off the scent.  They'll try to hide or run, run after them.  Like a wounded dog, they'll bark and bite when you get too close... endure.
They're in a dark place, maybe not as dark as you'd think, but maybe darker,  and you would never,  never know.  It could be right in your face, and you would never know.  Work to pull them out, someway, somehow.  They might not be on an actual suicidal path, but that doesn't mean their life isn't greatly affected by the thoughts they're having.

You can help someone you know.

If you are the one that needs a hand... show a sign, even if you don't feel strong enough to say it fully... just a look can be the sign, just eye contact.

I believe people can help each other... not talking about Dr.s or medicines, but conversations and moments.  You don't have to be a professional, just an ear... Just be present and attentive... That could be all that's needed.

Peace, love, empathy,


Immortality by Pearl Jam


This Is Blue Chip