Mobile Fitness Apps

In the world of mobile apps, 2014 appears to be shaping up to be the year of the fitness fanatic.  Check out this article for more info: http://www.cnet.com/news/fitness-fanatics-are-driving-a-mobile-app-usage-boom/

What Your Poop Says About Your Health

Outside of Dr. Oz, you don't hear many folks discussing their poop habits/behaviors.  Here's an interesting piece from Men's Health on this very subject: http://www.menshealth.com/health/poop-health?cid=social_20140620_26421676&cm_mmc=Twitter-_-MensHealth-_-Content-Health-_-PoopHealth

Are You Still Hungry After You Ate? Here's Why...

Not enough protein.....not enough fiber.....check out the full scoop here: http://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/reasons-youre-still-hungry?cid=social_20140618_26185476&cm_mmc=Twitter-_-MensHealth-_-Content-WeightLoss-_-StillHungry

Choosing Organic Produce

Criticism over FDA's new Advice on Eating Fish During Pregnancy

New advice that counsels children and pregnant women to eat more fish has been released.  Check out the full story HERE: http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2014/06/15/criticism-over-fda-new-advice-eating-fish-during-pregnancy/mrAVxwiJaimaiv3mVdSoaM/story.html

Choosing Quality Olive Oil

Drum Picture

My 8 y/o niece drew this picture of her Uncle Paul next to his drums.  I love it!

Single Leg Deadlifts

One of my favorite lower body strength exercises is the Single-Leg Deadlift.  Check out this fantastic article from the Girls Gone Strong web site for more information: http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/exercise-spotlight-single-leg-deadlift/

P90x and Muscle Confusion: The Truth

Charles Staley wrote a really good piece for T Nation all about P90x.  Check it out HERE: http://www.t-nation.com/training/p90x-and-muscle-confusion-the-truth

Cooking With Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is all the rage these days.  Many people have started using it to cook with as a butter replacement.  It has many other uses as well.  Check out this article from Whole Foods Market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/cooking-coconut-oil

More Good News About Walking

Regular exercise, including walking, significantly reduces the chance that a frail older person will become physically disabled, according to one of the largest and longest-running studies of its kind to date.

Check out the full article HERE: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/to-age-well-walk/

Are Athletes Really Getting Better Faster Stronger?

Preventable Factors Cause Majority of US Deaths

As recently reported by CNN Health and Time Magazine, five things account for nearly two-thirds of all deaths in the US, or about 900,000 each year:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Lung disease
• Stroke
• Unintentional injuries, including medication overdoses and car accidents

Check out the full article here for more info: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/14/preventable-us-deaths.aspx

The Strategy of Self Knowledge

Look Up!

Metabolic Effects of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Great research from Len Kravitz, PhD, program coordinator of exercise science @ the University of New Mexico:

"HIIT Summary: The most common benefit from HIIT- and certainly highly significant- is the improvement in VO2 max linked to enhanced protection from heart disease.  Perhaps equally important are HIIT's dramatic acute and chronic effects on improving insulin sensitivity.  

The effects of HIIT on visceral fat and subcutaneous fat loss are encouraging.  And the impact HIIT has on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure (when elevated) and improving HDL cholesterol is promising.  The evidence is in, and it appears that HIIT is a metabolic health effects winner!"

The Danger of Sports Specialization

"Repeated trauma to the nervous, skeletal and muscular system can be hidden in an athlete who is in his/her early 20's, but micro trauma from repetitive stress will accumulate over time and will definitely catch up with an individual later in life."

-Isaiah Truyman
CEO: Ezia Human Performance

Martin Rooney on Motivation

The Jar- and the Beers

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was...

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was...

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed...

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents.

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18...

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers with a friend.

The Scientific Secret of Strength & Muscle Growth