After a busy week of training I was able to have a Saturday off and spent it relaxing. Went to see Hall Pass, which was hilarious, and then made my way to Home Run Burgers to eat some lunch. Not the best thing to eat but everyone has to enjoy a cheat day every now and then. I have also been working with a co-worker on putting together some things for a future business. We are looking to create a name and start messing around with some online training. We also have a possible set up at a local country club to run a summer bootcamp program.
I really dislike the word "bootcamp" these days. I feel like it has over-saturated the industry and everyone under the sun runs a bootcamp here and there. The biggest issue I have with it is that majority of bootcamps are just an hour of exercises thrown together to make people sweat. Just because it is a larger group doesn't mean the trainer can't incorporate a little individuality. I like to think that most people in the general population have very similar issues including tight hip flexors, weak glutes, and forward-rounded posture. With that in mind the programing can be generalized but there is still the fact that each person is an individual and some people have more ability than others. So with a more in depth set up there needs to be some progression and regression available in a program. Having easier as well as harder options for certain exercises can make it a more individual workout instead of having everyone do the same thing even when they are on different levels.
Another issue with bootcamps is the lack of progression. A lot of times I see bootcamps be random each and every session. If that is the case then there is no progressive overload. Bootcamps should be just like individualized programs and include rep, set, and rest progression to ensure that each session is creating improvement.
Bootcamps are just like personal training sessions, just on a larger scale. If you are looking for a bootcamp, ask these questions and make sure you are signing up for something more than just a series of random workouts.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
*Sigh*
As I was sitting back and enjoying the Superbowl last night (which even though I hate both teams, was a really good game), a commercial came on that really caught my eye. No, it wasn't the Pepsi Max commercials that entertained the hell out me, but it was this commercial below:
I want to apologize right quick for making everyone reading this dumber, but at the same time take a second to let all the guys out there thank me for showing you Kim K.
You're welcome. Now back to the content. Look at the message of this commercial..."Ditch your trainer and where Shape-Ups shoes." I don't even know where to start. First of all, there is such a gap in today's society between what we need and what we accept. Day in and day out I see people come in to the gym and tell the training staff that they don't need training and they will do it on their own. As they wobble away on their 300-lb. frame, pop their blood pressure pills, and hop on the elliptical trainer, I know that within a month I will never see them again. Everyone wants to have the easiest route to success but in reality, real success is a long journey. With all of the late night ads and "home gym" systems being sold, it is no wonder people think losing weight and getting in shape is easy. The fitness industry is working hard to help people afford training and realize it's importance and just when progress is starting to be made more crap like this is coming out.
Beyond the fact that Shape-Ups and the like are not beneficial. All of their proposed benefits come from research involving sedentary people. Making sedentary people walk and workout is going to get results no matter what shoes they are wearing. Not to mention, these shoes change one's gate which can cause complications to the knees, hips, and lower back. If you notice, every major shoe company such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas are making fitness shoes that are more natural with less cushioning and less support. Plus the popularity of Vibrim Five Fingers amongst the running population has grown immensely over the past few years. Once again, more natural footing. So if all of these companies are striving to make fitness shoes more natural then why does it seem like a good idea to wear a shoe that has a 3 inch, odd shaped sole. It doesn't to me. Maybe instead of wearing these $150 shoes around while you walk from the couch to the fridge and back, maybe you should just put on some normal shoes and head to the gym. Maybe even get yourself a trainer who has gone through years of schooling and self-education that can help you not only lose the weight you want to lose but also fix some imbalances and issues that those damn Shape-Ups caused in the first place.
I really don't have anything else right now...my brain hurts because of this commercial...but Kim K. still looks good
I want to apologize right quick for making everyone reading this dumber, but at the same time take a second to let all the guys out there thank me for showing you Kim K.
You're welcome. Now back to the content. Look at the message of this commercial..."Ditch your trainer and where Shape-Ups shoes." I don't even know where to start. First of all, there is such a gap in today's society between what we need and what we accept. Day in and day out I see people come in to the gym and tell the training staff that they don't need training and they will do it on their own. As they wobble away on their 300-lb. frame, pop their blood pressure pills, and hop on the elliptical trainer, I know that within a month I will never see them again. Everyone wants to have the easiest route to success but in reality, real success is a long journey. With all of the late night ads and "home gym" systems being sold, it is no wonder people think losing weight and getting in shape is easy. The fitness industry is working hard to help people afford training and realize it's importance and just when progress is starting to be made more crap like this is coming out.
Beyond the fact that Shape-Ups and the like are not beneficial. All of their proposed benefits come from research involving sedentary people. Making sedentary people walk and workout is going to get results no matter what shoes they are wearing. Not to mention, these shoes change one's gate which can cause complications to the knees, hips, and lower back. If you notice, every major shoe company such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas are making fitness shoes that are more natural with less cushioning and less support. Plus the popularity of Vibrim Five Fingers amongst the running population has grown immensely over the past few years. Once again, more natural footing. So if all of these companies are striving to make fitness shoes more natural then why does it seem like a good idea to wear a shoe that has a 3 inch, odd shaped sole. It doesn't to me. Maybe instead of wearing these $150 shoes around while you walk from the couch to the fridge and back, maybe you should just put on some normal shoes and head to the gym. Maybe even get yourself a trainer who has gone through years of schooling and self-education that can help you not only lose the weight you want to lose but also fix some imbalances and issues that those damn Shape-Ups caused in the first place.
I really don't have anything else right now...my brain hurts because of this commercial...but Kim K. still looks good
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Pop-Star Training
I saw this video and thought not only was it hilarious but also very true. The fitness industry has been trapped in a mindset that trainers are nothing more than exercise addicts who can't get themselves to leave the gym, so instead they just get a job there. Many "trainers" are barely educated and have basic certifications that were obtained through a weekend workshop. Being in a commercial gym setting I have heard trainers make the claim that have learned all they need to know to train people and get results. I have also witnessed trainers do exactly the opposite of what they tell their clients to do as far as nutrition goes.
When going to hire a personal trainer make sure you know what you are purchasing. Ask background questions about education, experience, and philosophy. An indication of an educated trainer is a well planned philosophy of training. It isn't just about making you sweat but instead involves science and reasoning. Training is an expensive purchase, so why waste money on someone who is going to make you do one legged, upside down, squats on a bosu ball with a kettlebell in one hand and a band in another. Just because it is hard does not mean it is the right thing to be doing.
Do your checks before hiring someone to train you and ask around. Just like buying a car or a house. You wouldn't just get a car because it looks good. You check out the engine and history reports to make sure it is going to last and stay running. Check out this article below. It is another good insight into the world of commercial fitness and all the gimmicks and crap trainers that people look up to.
Commercial Training
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Business 101
Over the past few months I have been involved in a new business venture. I joined in with a few other guys to start evolving a gym and growing it to multiple facilities. After a few months and no real progress that venture is coming to an end. There were some discrepancies and disagreements amongst the partnership which were the cause of our early breakup and lack of success. From this whole experience I have learned a few things about business, marketing, and managing. However, there is one thing I learned that will determine all future business decisions.
When going into business with others, make sure that everyone has similar thought processes. With my recent partnership, there were three different partners with three very different mindsets. Not only with business but also with training and facility management. When there are three people with three different belief systems, it makes it almost impossible to move forward with total agreement. Small things become big things and then it just causes frustration and distress.
Before starting up a business or joining in on an existing business, all the factors must be looked at first. What are the other partners training philosophies? How do they run the gym compared to how you would like to have things ran? Do they have the same integrity as you? What kind of direction are the other partners wanting to take the business and is that the same direction as where you want to go?
Ask these questions before you join into a business of any kind. I failed to look at these issues and got rushed up into the excitement of owning a studio and it ended without any success. But even without success I was still able to learn and get a new light on where I want to be in a few years down the road.
When going into business with others, make sure that everyone has similar thought processes. With my recent partnership, there were three different partners with three very different mindsets. Not only with business but also with training and facility management. When there are three people with three different belief systems, it makes it almost impossible to move forward with total agreement. Small things become big things and then it just causes frustration and distress.
Before starting up a business or joining in on an existing business, all the factors must be looked at first. What are the other partners training philosophies? How do they run the gym compared to how you would like to have things ran? Do they have the same integrity as you? What kind of direction are the other partners wanting to take the business and is that the same direction as where you want to go?
Ask these questions before you join into a business of any kind. I failed to look at these issues and got rushed up into the excitement of owning a studio and it ended without any success. But even without success I was still able to learn and get a new light on where I want to be in a few years down the road.
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