Real Fitness Is Like Bingo!!

The other day in our trainer meeting one of our trainers had this great concept about what true fitness is. He said it's a lot alike the game BINGO. He compared different components of fitness to letters on a BINGO card and the goal is to fill out each letter until you have a complete "BINGO."

B-12 could be being able to run 5K, I-23 could be the ability to deadlift 100 pounds, N-4 could be the ability to hold a yoga pose. I think you get the point. Most people keep doing only what they are good at or what feels comfortable to them so they only really have a couple letters of "BINGO" covered.

In today's world true fitness isn't one dimensional. It's about being versatile and about having ability in multiple areas instead of just one or two. I used to be all about weights. All I cared about was how much I could lift and how big I could get. Now I can run 10 miles, mountain bike, hold yoga poses and I still am able to lift respectable weight. More importantly, I feel much better and from what people tell me I look better. No more musclehead looks AND I can see my neck again!

What letter do you need to cover on your BINGO form?

The Laws Of Lifetime Growth

Here is a cool handout that I have posted in my office. I find it''s great for review to help me stay focused in a world where several distractions can knock me off course.

The Laws Of Lifetime Growth

1. Always make your future bigger than your past

2. Always make your learning greater than your experience

3. Always make your contribution bigger than your reward.

4. Always make your performance greater than your applause.

5. Always make your gratitude greater than your success.

6. Always make your enjoyment greater than your effort

7. Always make your cooperation greater than your status.

8. Always make your confidence greater than your comfort.

9. Always make your purpose greater than your money.

10. Always make your questions bigger than your answers

The Smith Machine Is Evil!!

Why the Smith Machine Is Evil!!

Recently one of my friends injured himself very badly doing squats on the smith machine which many people will do things such as squats and bench press on. I also knew a large bodybuilder who completely tore his bicep doing curls on a Smith Machine They feel that this is safe because

it has latches and is fixed so in a sense you can self spot yourself. Makes sense doesn't it?? Don't fall for it. This machine is actually in my opinion very hard on your joints and your spine. It forces your body to stay in a limited range of motion not allowing your body to make adjustments through a free range of motion to reposition your center of gravity and the stress on your joints and body. This can lead to an overload in one area causing an injury.

You are better off doing squats and upper body movements with a free bar. On squats squatting with a free bar allows you to move your hips back supporting your spine versus doing them on a smith machine which does not allow the hips to fully work compressing your your discs like an accordion! Use dumbbells or a bar for bench press versus a fixed bar because a smith machine will literally force your shoulder into a position it might not be ready to go causing an injury to the glenohumeral joint or ball and socket shoulder joint at the top of your arm.

The bottom line your body is challenged more with free weights than fixed machines, your joints have to stabilize more, your muscles are worked in more of a 3 dimensional versus one dimensional. They are also safer and allow your body to make adjustments to avoid over stressing an area and properly distributing the load so your body can lift it safely.