Archive for August, 2009
Why using a stop watch is very productive?
Aug 26th
It has been 7 years since I have been training people, and I have found that the more you think deeply about exercise routines the more you come up with fascinating information. However, I have to proclaim that there are different sources which I have leaned on to learn about physical fitness. Pardon me, for I have digressed from the topic of discussion. To pull back things together, let’s discuss about one very important tool in training and in what way a stop watch will help in our exercise routines.
When it comes to winning the fat loss race for any individual, or a fitness enthusiast seeking a fit body, or an athlete who wants to excel in his sport, what differentiates them from others is the intensity factor which plays an important role. In other words, it is TIME which is one of the most important determinants to intensify your workout, and the one which will help in their respective endeavors to succeed. Take for example; running, swimming, resistance training, or performing (HIIT) everything is based on time.
Let’s take running for example. Generally, running is touted to be the best method for fat loss. It is true to a larger extent as many have found it to be productive, but, more importantly, what happens when we time- pace the workout? For example, what if we are asked to sprint 100 meters followed by rest for a minute done for several rounds? It would yield tremendous result. A typical jogging routine say for an hour or so, wouldn’t really help in fat loss whatsoever. As the body gets accustomed to the routine it becomes efficient in burning fewer calories to perform the same work. In addition, this type of low intensity exercise might promote loss of muscle bulk, strength, and power. I believe I have deviated again, for it is beyond the scope of this topic to discuss about the drawbacks of aerobic training.
Whereas, when you perform the above mentioned routine and tweak it with little changes, it is bound to create wonders in your physique. It is not only running but consider your resistance training routine, when you start taking notice of the rest interval , you will strive to better the workout the next time when you perform the same routine by reducing the rest period. It means that jotting down the routines is a very important tool in a gym parlance. You will understand your regimes better, as you perceive your routines in a very subtle but different way. When you learn to demand less time to complete your exercise routine, you will see that your body looks better sculpted, as you would have lost some amount of fat. Also when we start thinking about creating routines in a time-paced perspective there is a whole lot of possibilities which arise for our taking. It means that we get innumerable choices to change our routines in a very productive way.
Why on earth should we be thinking to change the routines? It is because any newbie will notice results instantly as soon as he/she gets into a resistance training regime. But our body adapts soon to the demands we impose on it and that is when we need to make frequent changes in our routines, for if we do not add variety into our routines we hit a plateau soon, and the apparent fat loss or muscle gain wanes. And INTENSITY if you ask any fitness trainer is the most important factor in determining the effectiveness of a routine. How do you intensify your workouts? The answer is very simple: Buy a stopwatch. TIME as discussed above is one of the best methods to reinforce our exercise routines. For example, perform pushups, jump ropes, burpees, sprinting 100 mts or 400mts for several rounds within a fixed time and record the number o f reps which you obtain, and the next time you perform the same routine try to beat your previous personal record. And do not worry much as the results will be eager to speak to you.
Train smart and enjoy the sweat.
Who Is Vineeth?
Aug 12th
I had said that I would share a similar story (David Smith) with you. Vineeth is a 19 year old college student whose height is 5.7 and weighed 108 kilos when he enrolled in my gym. Right now, he is 77 kilos which means that he has lost substantial amount of fat in a period of 9 months and that is to say he has lost nearly 68 pounds. I couldn’t believe my eyes, as I hardly remembered the way he looked when he started to frequent the gym. Upon my request he brought his before picture, and my gym members and I were both astounded as the difference was and is markedly visible. However, I had earlier thought that this kid like many others would lose his interest and would quit coming to gym sooner or later. To my surprise, he didn’t stop and hung on to enjoy the pain and pleasure of working out.
In the meantime, I had expressed my concern to him that he should take things under control, and that weight should be lost now or it will be never, as I thought once if he secures a job his priorities would change forever and it is very unlikely that he would think about his health and weight. Life unexpectedly turns out to be very busy when we embark into an unknown territory called WORK. I have to reiterate that he, surprisingly, took my words seriously and continued coming to the gym, as I have rarely seen individuals consider their weight to pose a huge problem, for they do not know that it can lead to serious health maladies like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart ailments, etc. Blood pressure and diabetes which are termed as silent killers can wreck havoc in our health and well being, and it should be known that obesity plays a major role in contributing to the above mentioned illnesses.
On the contrary to the above stated reasons, I am very happy for Vineeth as he continues to impress me, for he seems to have realized the labor of working out and eating healthy food for better health, well being, and weight management. He diligently frequents the gym which has to be appreciated. Stories of these kinds should not go unnoticed. It is for us to take notice of it and appreciate the work.
Furthermore, I am glad to express that I neither suggested him to take any fat loss pills nor put him under those endless cardio sessions. I instructed him to avoid eating out and see to it that he eats unprocessed food and eats protein in every meal of his. As far as his routines are concerned, I integrate resistance training with high intensity interval training (HIIT) combined with strongman workouts. It is a time-tested approach, as martial artists train much similarly and it has proved beyond any doubt to be the best mode for fat loss. Also, I vividly remember him not able to a single box jump because of his weight, but it is now heartening to watch him do most of the body weight exercises with ease. Above all, what is important is that Vineeth and many others have continued to lose weight which is very gratifying.
By the way, enjoy watching his before and after pictures.
PS: We neither use nor recommend the usage of fat loss pills and steroids at Ironcult. Fitness building has to be approached from inside-out. Our bodies are temples and thus should be treated justifiably, and we should try to lessen ego’s gratification and not abuse the body by using various chemicals. Bruce Lee says, “Showing off is fool’s idea of glory.” Though Bruce Lee was a world class martial artist, you can identify the humility he carried by observing the above statement. We as individuals will appreciate our efforts either in losing fat or in building muscle if we do it the hard way, as there lies no shortcut. It is time we realize that fitness and health should be a way of life rather thought as something which can be achieved overnight.
David Smith Will Inspire Us All.
Aug 6th
Here is another story of great success. Four and half years ago David smith weighed a whooping 650 lbs. He has lost more than 400 pounds through regular eating and proper exercising. If you listen to the video, you will know that David was obese for many years, and it took him more than two years to shred all the fat. What is more inspiring is that David never succumbed to weight loss surgeries, but the excess skin had to be removed via surgery.
There lies self doubt whenever we want to achieve a milestone in our lives. During those times due to negativity and self denial we tend to go deep down the drain. “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up,” says the great scientist Thomas Edison. I often look at this quote by Thomas Edison and tell many of my gym members that we should never give up on our goals. The above statement by Edison makes loads of sense, but we fail to always realize the potential we have in ourselves and give up on our pursuits half way.
I am going to share an interesting fat loss story which occurred at my training center in the coming week. I am also going to share his before and after photos, as a proof to his great achievement. As a matter of fact, it really surprised me to look at his before photo. Meanwhile, you enjoy the story of David Smith, he will inspire you.
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