Look at Your Waist and Hips

One of the best ways to self test yourself for symptoms of obesity is to simply use body tape. In fact, body tape blows away using a scale and the ridiculous over used BMI guide (I absolutely hate BMI... its a joke). You should also put this to use for any body fat reducing endeavor. Obviously the best way of testing is still hydrostatic and skinfold calipers (as long as the administrator knows how to use it), but this is still a great way to self check. All you have to do is check your measurement at waist level (either directly on navel or slightly above) and the hip level. The most important is the measurement being at the waist. This is where the dreaded visceral fat can easily store up around your vital organs underneath the abdominal wall. This fat storage leads to many cardiovascular and digestive problems. We all know some guy that has a seriously hard stomach about the size of a keg. The deception is the muscle is pushed forward so the stomach is hard to the touch but underneath the vitals organs are fighting for space with oozing fat. You can't deceive the the body tape.

Here is the breakdown to make sure you are healthy:

Men your waist measurement should be below 37 inches (94 cm)! If not get training now and eat right.

Women your waist needs to be below 31.5 inches (80 cm)! If not quit wasting time on that mindless treadmill and really start training and eating right.

Check out the many articles I wrote to get started at The Fitness Road

The hip ratio portion is really hard to tell if you are out of shape or not. Some of us have seriously big engines (butts) for power and speed. Some of us have wider hips. I usually don't bother with hip stipulations. This area should reduce just like the waist BUT the waist should be lower than hip in the ratio.

What the HELL!!

Gawd Dammit to Hell!! I totally screwed things up with my regiment. For some insane reason I eliminated the chin up from my training. Three months later I'm in the gym doing a few chinups....suddenly I am totally out of strength and I am kicking around like a "X-box loving out of shape 7th grader" in gym class. This was on rep number 5 for crying out loud!!

What happened! Well the most primal of all pulling lifts known was neglected and shunned from my training and my ability to grab the bar and grind out fifteen or so chins was over. Now here I am re introducing the chinup to my body. I do a chinup everytime I pass by a bar. I do negatives and scapula elevation/depression drills on the bar. My only quest is to gain back some chinup dignity.

Excuse my rant.

We Need to Laugh

There is a great author who once said humans are cursed with the ability to see just how fragile and short our existence here on earth. So when we laugh we are boldly laughing at our own mortality. I agree with him. We need to lighten up and laugh a bit. Live in the present and drive for a better future. So this entry is just a little blog for you to laugh at:

Good and Bad Side of Personal Training

The battle rages on about what makes a good trainer and what makes a turd. I've been in the industry long enough to see many good trainers and even more turds that call themselves trainers. To make this easy to understand, I'll illustrate what I mean with an example of a good personal trainer and bad personal trainer. This should remind you of the filmstrips played in elementary school on topics such as good hygiene/ bad hygiene.

Good Trainer: Will greet you and assess your goals, general health, and ability to get to that goal. As a bonus more knowledgeable trainers will be able to take an in depth look at your posture, daily good and bad habits, and your current fitness level.

Bad Trainer: Will greet you and attempt to go right into a training session without any knowledge of your abilities, goals and health risk factors. This trainer uses phrases like "did you feel that?", "are your abs sore yet?", and "gimme two more whatever your name is?" This turd like any other simply tries to make your muscles burn without knowing that any chimpanzee can make anyones muscles burn. Only an idiot would choose a trainer because their abs hurt or biceps burn. This bozo will also try to sell you by throwing in foolish philosophies: "You have to do situps on a ball to get a sixpack", "Warmup on a treadmill for 5 minutes and then come over to me so I can make you do bicep curls", "You have to eat lower than 1200 calories to lose weight" and the list goes on.


Good Trainer: Introduces his or her solution for you to achieve your goals. There may be many options available but the prices for the solutions are not up for bid. This trainer knows his or her worth and that the quality and value of the training can not be under minded by amateur discounts or freebie sessions.

Bad Trainer: Cheap in both price and quality. You are just another dollar in this turd's pocket. This hustler will probably use adjectives such us "instant", "ripped", "maximum calorie burn" , and "totally awesome...". No quality and little value. More discounts and free sessions than you can imagine if you just sign the contract.


Good Trainer: Keeps an accurate journal of your training and body composition. This trainer knows without collected data there is no progression, at least not for long. This trainer is able to assess any problems that may arise with your health and is not afraid to refer to another professional (such as doctor or physical therapist) if something is out of his scope. Results are guaranteed to happen after following the customized protocols.

Bad Trainer: Can give a rat's ass what you want or need. Either he will follow a silly muscle mag cookie cut workout or listen to some crap another turd told him. Probably have you do an extreme diet without any idea of what he is doing. Training is just what he or she feels like watching you do. Today may be the worthless butt blaster and tomorrow the worthless shoulder press machine. No care for form or muscle and nervous system recovery, just hurry up and lets go to the next machine. This turd judges you strictly from your weight on the scale not knowing weight can fluctuate greatly and is deceptional when used alone. Your weights up, so now you have to go on the elliptical for two hours today or something stupid like that.


Oh I can go on and on. I imagine you get the scoop from these examples. Make sure you seek out a good, high quality and knowledgeable trainer and leave the turds in the toilet.

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Dynamic Body and Dynamic Mind

I am very happy to say from public support and support from other experts, we are looking forward to a GREAT new year!!

A new series will soon debut. It will take simple myths and gym legends, such as "sitting in a sauna raises gh and helps burn fat", and put them to the test to see if they have solid evidence or weak and no evidence backing them.

It is with a solid scientific base that one can go in various directions without wasting time trying to prove what has already been proven.

I will leave you with this basic knowledge for the new year.

Since the day you are born, you are born to move and move constantly (when all movement stops then so does life). A child unable to sit in class through a boring lecture on history is not suffering from A.D.D. He or she is simply doing what the child was born to do. Move and move A LOT. Keep this in mind when you are looking for ways to drop pounds quickly or develop a more muscular physique. We are born to move and through movement we burn excess calories and we get stronger and better than before. It is only when we begin to limit our motion that we find oursleves with joint pains, limited flexibility, and many related diseases.

Follow these tips to regain your ability to be mobile, stronger, and healthier:

1. Do not sit in one position for more than 15 minutes. You will find your body wants to shift around anyway. If you are able to stand up and squat back down a few times in your seat, great. Place your hands behind your head and lean your upper torso back, as well. A smart strength coach gave this peice of advice:

Squat down keeping your heels on the floor for a point in time where you no longer can hold the position. If you are at work, act like you are checking a computer wire or outlet. Maybe even drop some paper on the floor and take your time picking it up.

2. Walk to places of short distance to you (instead of driving). Your local store, video store, or a friends house. Remember to be safe and try to bring a buddy or maybe a vicious pitbull.

3. Drink a lot of water and get it from a different location than you rest or work at. If you are staring at the boob tube, make an effort to getting up and getting a glass of water every so often.

The more mobile you are the easier it will be to enforce good healthy habits. Trust me, motion creates emotion (good and happy kind). So move forward into the new year!

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