I know I may be a little late, but there are still some holidays left – New Years, Kwanzaa.  So, whatever you celebrate or celebrated, I hope it was delightful.  My family and I celebrate Christmas, and it was a good one.  I tried to write this post while I was home in Pittsburgh, but I was always too busy eating cookies, feverishly trying to devour all the chocolate chips so my mom would make my favorite – iced cut-out cookies.  It never happened though.  Next year Mom, next year.  Anyways this post is all about how awesome I am, and how I gave everyone in my family health and fitness gifts.  Let’s have a look here…

Dad got a “chinning triangle” or double cable handle thing.

My dad’s gym, which is in the unfinished part of my parents basement, is devoid of almost anything to do a “pulling” exercise on.  No cables or chinning bar his only option is bent-over rows, and I’m not sure how often those are getting done.  Now he has another option with his old school T-Bar row set-up.

Remember you need more pulling.

Mom got a Sigg water bottle, you need less plastic.

According to Stephen Perrine & Heather Hurlock who wrote the new Men’s Health article, “The New American Diet”

“you’re among the 93 percent of Americans with detectable levels of bisphenol A (BPA) in their bodies, and you’re also among the 75-plus percent of Americans with detectable levels of phthalates in their urine. Both of these synthetic chemicals, found in plastics, mimic estrogen. And like some pesticides, these chemicals can predispose your body from an early age to gain fat.

How do they end up inside you? Mostly through what you eat and drink: Phthalates can be found in food packaging, plastic wraps, and pesticides, as well as children’s toys, PVC pipe, and medical supplies. Each year, about 18 billion pounds of phthalate esters are created worldwide, and they can easily leach into your body.

More than 6 billion pounds of BPA, found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is produced every year; it leaches from food and drink packaging, baby bottles, cans, and bottle tops.”

My sister got a Chop Wizard, you need more veggies.

In my opinion the Chop Wizard is a must for food preparation.  Every Sunday I chop my veggies for the week.  I’ve recommended this to all of my clients, family and friends.  If you do this it is very easy to eat your veggies with every meal, simply open the fridge and toss a handful in your salads, omelets, stir fry, etc.  Often people tell me they don’t have time to chop all their vegetables for each meal, I don’t either, that’s why I do it all on the weekend with the Chop Wizard.  I recommend you do the same.  Here’s a cell phone photo of some of my veggies, notice they’re all in glass containers.

Have a good one folks and remember more pulling exercises, more veggies, and less plastic.

Hello and happy Monday.  I apologize for the lack of posts, I have been extremely busy as of late.  I’m realizing that not having deadlines or a boss to answer to here at liftrestrepeat.com doesn’t lessen the level of stress and guilt I feel when I don’t post.  Although I have been busy I managed to read some good articles last week that I’d like to share with you.  Blogging will always come second to reading and continuing my education.   Currently I’m trying to chip away at a monster reading list.  The only problem is each time I cross one book off I add two more.  I’ve pinned my reading/education list above my desk along with the following quote:

“The gap between where you are, and where you want to be – is called FRUSTRATION.

Frustration is eliminated by Education and Action.

So what do you need to know to get to the next level?” – Alwyn Cosgrove

Alwyn blogged about this quote and idea here.

On my gap list, which separates where I am now and my future awesomeness, I have three categories:

• Read (books and articles)

• Watch (DVDs, and observations of other coaches, trainers, pts)

• Attend (Seminars, Certifications)

In my attempt to obtain awesomeness I also do a lot of online reading.  This past week I read some gems.  So without further a do…

Only One Body by Michael Boyle

“Some people say things like “I hate to work out”. Try sitting in the emergency room for a few hours and then get back to me.”

“Core” Stability “Training” by Mark Rippetoe

“I guess you might believe that Multi-Directional Lunges and Seated Marching on the Physioball are the best ways to wake up your sleeping “core”.  These types of extremely submaximally-loaded odd movements are roughly equivalent to the stresses encountered when taking the groceries out of the back seat, or walking through a crowded bar without spilling your beer.”

Incremental Increases by Mark Rippetoe

“The majority of the human race is composed of lazy slobs that are prodded through their miserable existences by the media, preconceived notions and prejudices, rumor/hearsay/innuendo, bad advice from fools, and the hope for an easy way to do everything. So it’s okay if they pay us our enrollment fees and some dues, come a few times and then disappear. It’s not our fault. Right?”

The Truth About Kids and Resistance Training by Eric Cressey

“While the proximal humeral growth plate might mature at 19, the distal (down by the elbow) physis is finished between ages 10 and 16.  The proximal and distal radius plates might mature anywhere between 14 and 23.  Meanwhile, the clavicle matures at ages 22-25, and the scapula generally matures by age 22.  How many of you have ever heard of a college football being held out of weight training for all four years of his participation because all that bench pressing might stunt the growth of his clavicles and scapulae?”