Eric J. Moss | New Jersey Kettlebell Training | North Jersey Personal Training | RKC Kettlebell Certified » training

A slippery slope and a grey line with steroids and what is considered cheating

Eric Moss — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 07:23:48 +0000

So I just finished watching the documentary “Bigger Faster Stronger” on youtube and I just have to say it was fantastic.

Chris Bell is a man who did his homework and produced a well thought out and informative documentary that really does make you think. Now it is rather well known that Mr. Olympia competitors are all on the juice (steroids), apparently a lot of pro football, pro baseball, pro anything athletic people are on the juice. So if all the cool kids are doing it, is it still cheating? And if it is, what else is? Is use of creatine cheating? How about coffee? How about proper nutrition? Would it be considered cheating because I use tension and better training modalities to gain an edge? I can do a pullup and a pistol with 106lbs which is something that isn’t easily attainable and for many people they probably will never do it and I did it with well thought out training. The 106lb press is kind of like my white whale though. If I did a cycle of steroids I could probably achieve that…but would I really have achieved it? Or would the accomplishment belong to the steroids?

What do you think? Is steroids cheating if all the cool kids are doing it?

By the way for the record, I don’t take steroids, I haven’t taken steroids, I don’t plan on ever taking steroids even though it’s something I have been accused of doing more then once. People that accuse me of that are usually the sissy’s that even steroids can’t cure.

Should you train while on vacation?

Eric Moss — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:33:21 +0000

I 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

Strength Training for Fitness and Aesthetics

Eric Moss — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:25:47 +0000

Alright I was sitting here at my laptop with no clue what I wanted to write about so I’ll just give you a free workout to try at home. Hell I’ll write down the guidelines for you to complete it free of charge since I am not an asshole after all. I just came back from running a class and this is what I had them do. All you need is a kettlebell. The purpose of this training session is to train over head stability and movement quality, build strength and boost your metabolism to burn some fat (if that is your goal get on a proper nutrition program).

4 turkish get ups alternating sides. Make sure to pay attention to proper form.

“Countdowns” (I stole “countdowns” from uber Strength Coach Alwyn Cosgrove…he told me to…)
Complete this as fast as you can with good form.

10 swings
10 goblet squats
9 swings
9 goblet squats
8 swings
8 goblet squats
till you get down to 1

Wait for your respiration to return to normal then do kettlebell arm bars to open up the chest. That one doesn’t have a specific rep count since I want you to just kind of explore your way through the exercise. Remember to keep your lats tight and keep your shoulder away from your ear.

Then do a couple halos and round the body pass just to loosen up your shoulders a bit more.

Prone cobra stretch at the end.

Enjoy.

Eric Moss RKC

I want you to notice that even though there is a lot going on in that workout I stress the basics. It’s turkish getups, swings and squats. Do more of the stuff that provides a high bang for your buck and you will get better results. Exercise selection is the last thing your body adapts to so don’t buy into that muscle confusion crap. Try that training session out and let me know how you do with it. I mean it, speak up.

“Gaining Strength vs. Getting Ripped”

Eric Moss — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:39:37 +0000

So a week or two ago I was a bit curious so I decided to post a simple little question on facebook
“Which would you rather be, strong or ripped if you had to choose one?” and I have to say I was very surprised by the responses.

2 would rather be ripped.
12 would rather be strong.

I really thought it was going to be the other way around and I was very surprised that a lot of the girls wanted to be strong. I get a lot of email from people that are asking me how I got ripped abs. Lately I have been posting some of my strength stunts where I just turn on the camera and try and do something I haven’t really done before that requires a bit of strength. I tend to get a lot of positive feedback from that but nobody really asking me how (well to be honest some of them are strength coaches that already know the answer).

Now even though the question required that you choose one I have good news for you and no I didn’t save a ton of money on car insurance by switching to Geico. The good news is you don’t have to choose one and if you did in fact prefer to get ripped you should choose both. To get ripped you should strength train.

Take a look at the muscular definition of the weak man.

Now take a look at the muscular definition of this old time strongman Eugen Sandow.

Which has better definition?

“To get strong I must do things that require strength. To get ripped I must eat healthy nutritious food.” Say that out loud to yourself ten times in a row, memorize them and get the best of both worlds.

Time to hear your comments.

Turbulence Training Style Workout Done With Kettlebells

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:23:29 +0000

I know its been awhile since I had last posted but things had been a bit rough. Anyways I know you want your fat loss and muscle building workouts you greedy bastards you so here is one I created. I used ideas I got from the emanual Turbulence Training by Craig Ballantyne. I don’t know if you saw my video on which is better Turbulence Training or p90x but if you did you would know I favor Turbulence Training.

Why?

Its more efficient. I am all for doing the things that bring the most bang for the buck when it comes to training time. Why do things that are unnecessary? Anyways here is your Turbulence Training style fat loss and muscle building workout done with kettlebells

Remember you have to eat correctly too.