Archive for eric moss
Should you train while on vacation?
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t know how long you have been keeping up with my blog but a little while back I took my girlfriend on a cruise where I proposed to her (and she said yes). Well the time has come for us to book our honeymoon because our wedding is coming up in November. Well for me being the stingy bastard that I am I wanted to get a high bang for my buck place (kind of like my exercise programs) and checked a lot of places and what they have to offer. One thing I noticed under the amenities was that just about all of them have a “fitness facility” listed under a place that could have very easily been titled “Here are a bunch of reasons you should stay here.”
Now I have a hard time understanding a lot of people’s mindsets. For one thing is pushing yourself through a workout while you could be on a beautiful beach or an excursion really the way you want to spend your vacation? Contrary to popular belief you aren’t going to lose your results after a single week of indulgence and relaxation. Actually you could come back refreshed since back off weeks are a part of just about every strength and conditioning programs out there. Some of my clients even ask me right before they leave what they should do while on vacation. I answer “Whatever you want. Relax and we can undue whatever damage was done when you get back.” Most of the facilities don’t give me the eye of the tiger anyways.
Would you rather be here or in the gym.
One thing I have also noticed is that some people will avoid training just about every other week of the year and suddenly while they are on vacation they get the inspiration to train. Hey I guess late is better then never but the major problem here is that they spend their entire vacation limping around from delayed onset muscle soreness. Not a pleasant way to spend the vacation and you aren’t going to have any visible results from the single workout that pretty nearly ruined your trip.
So to wrap it up what I recommend is to pay your dues BEFORE your trip. Spend the vacation enjoying the fruits of your labor.
The fruits of my labor
Good enough never is
Posted by: | CommentsSo I was driving home from my client’s house this morning and was just kind of self reflecting and all that Eastern wisdom style mumbo jumbo and had thought about what I wanted to blog about. By the time I got to my computer I lost it. So instead I got up, made myself a cup of coffee (excuse me…uh pre workout supplement) sat down with my cup o joe and logged onto facebook and checked out what my internet peeps were talking about. Then I read RKC Dale Buchanan’s facebook update where he was quoting Debbi Fields.
“Good enough never is”
It was the exact thing I was thinking to myself this morning. You see by most people’s definition I am pretty darn good. I can strict one arm press half my bodyweight, I can pistol squat 88+lbs (haven’t tested it higher yet) and can do a pull-up with 106lbs tied to my waist. I did the 300 workout in 16mins12secs and I’ve done a one handed chin. Like I said by most people’s definitions I am pretty darn good. By my definition there is still plenty of room for improvement because good enough never is.
What if Roger Bannister thought to himself “Oh I ran a 4 and half minute mile. I guess that’s good enough.”? He never would have broken the 4minute mile previously thought impossible. If Yury Vlasov was content with being able to clean and jerk 150kg he never would have been the first man to do over 200kgs, never would have been proclaimed “The strongest man on the planet.” and never would have been the inspiration for Fedor “The Last Emperer” Emelianenko.
Someone once said that the biggest dissappointment is not living up to your potential. Only way to live up to your potential is to chase it, never give up and stay hungry. Good luck.
Got thoughts?
Building habits to promote behaviors
Posted by: | CommentsSo the other day I was watching some good old fashioned mixed martial arts with my fiance in our home after dinner. The dishes were left in the sink so that I could wash them after the fights which I had waited all week to see. My fiance is starting to get a little more into the fights but I guess this night was too much for her and she said to me “If I skip the main event I’ll just wash the dishes so you don’t have to.” Normally I would have jumped at the chance because I absolutely hate washing dishes. I don’t know what it is but when spaghetti is at the bottom of the sink it’s really gross even just to touch.
The thing is I told her to stay and watch the fights with me. I really dread washing dishes but I know that if I start breaking the cycle then that would start a whirlwind that would leave our house a mess all the time. I know the importance of starting good habits and just sticking to them.
Beer isn't exactly the right habit to build but you know what I mean.
On the other hand I had put swings and turkish getups on my fiance’s “to do” list. I am going to do that 5 days a week. I am doing this to imprint good habits with her because I know she has the same kind of traps as me. If she drops off she will literally have no fitness program and it isn’t in her system yet to train consistently. With me being on her case if it happens like I plan it she will get addicted to the stimulus of training and learn the thrill that comes with physical strength. Like I said we are building good habits. Me to clean up everything right after I use it so the mess doesn’t accumulate and her to make fitness a part of her lifestyle.
So what can you learn from this? Do whatever habit you are trying to build every day until it is a part of you. Habits create lasting progress.
Ashley Greene uses kettlebells
Posted by: | CommentsYou know anyone who knows me knows I am not one to watch the Twilight series. To me real vampires burn when exposed to the sun rays instead of sparkling or glowing or whatever the hell they do in that movie series. Hell if I am going to be on a team for anyone in a movie I pick team Megatron.
All hail Megatron, the Decepticon lord
However I was just perusing Josh Hillis’ blog and found that the starlet of Eclipse (the new movie in the Twilight series) used kettlebells to prepare for her role. Now for one thing this does get me stoked because it helps spread the word that kettlebells are awesome for attaining the body you have always wanted. Take a look at her.
Ashley Greene trains with kettlebells
Not bad right? One of the major fears many of my female clients have is that kettlebells are going to turn them into men. Well Ashley Greene doesn’t look like a man. I don’t think she looks like a vampire either (well neither does the vamp main character in my humble opinion) but that’s a different story.
Her nutrition from what I can tell consists of things that you would find in nature. Meat, veggies, things not processed and that goes with kettlebell training for a winning combination. Hmm, that is pretty much the same exact advice I give to my female clients. I guess movie stars aren’t all that different from us after all.
So ladies, what can you learn from this? Train smart, eat smart, set a deadline (like being in a movie) get results. Guys, what can you learn from this? Pretty much the same thing. If not send your lady friend to this post and maybe she’ll learn something.
What do you think? Agree? Disagree?
The Biggest Loser Strength Kit. Are you kidding me?
Posted by: | CommentsSo today I was sitting on my bed jammin a little bit on my guitar because I couldn’t think of anything to write about on this here blog you are reading. As I am playing I am also glancing around the room searching for my muse and noticed that my t-shirt drawer was open. Standing out of my shirts was a shirt that some of my friends had given me as a present/joke which I sometimes where to fitness seminars just for a laugh. It said “I workout everyday” and has a picture of a WiiMote.
Then I realized “Wii have a problem.”
You see just as I saw that I had a bit of a flash back to when I was Christmas Shopping at Best Buy and found an ingenious item for sale called The Biggest Loser Strength Kit for the Nintendo Wii.
Biggest Loser Strength Kit, complete with 5lb dumbbells
Are you kidding me? First thing, if you want to be strong you have to do things that require strength. 5lb dumbbells won’t require strength unless you are just waking up from a hospital bed after a long time in a coma or are just getting out of a full body cast. Hopefully you aren’t.
Now second if you want to change your fitness levels and change your body don’t use video games to do that. Chances are video games are what got you there in the first place so don’t expect them to get you out no matter how bad you want them to. Get up off your ass and get outside train hard and train consistent and do things that require strength (even if strength isn’t your goal).
Now I know you got some thoughts floating around your head. Let me hear them.
