The Lazy Punter
Do people really want to get fit, feel healthier, look better, live longer and have a more active life… Hell yeah!
Do the majority of people take action to ensure the above happens?
Sadly the answer is as obvious as the nose on Barbra Streisand face… NO!!
So why is there a break down for 80% of the population that desires to be healthier but can’t get off their fat butts long enough to do something about it?
In my own work place & at the odd weekend barbeque (I manage to squeeze in), I am asked consistently “What do I need to do to lose weight off my bum”, “tone up”, “get stronger”, “get fitter”, “put on muscle” etc…
My first question back is “what are you doing at the moment?”
The usual reply is “nothing!! I’m thinking about it”.
Well fuck me Sherlock? Try moving your frumpy arse down to the gym, do some exercise, watch what you put in your mouth and make time to train consistently…take action!!
Can I make it any clearer… but you know what, people are lazy and the retorts I usually hear are: “I haven’t got time”, “can’t afford it”, “got injuries”, blah blah blah….
The simple truth is at the moment you haven’t prioritized your health: you’re breathing (maybe hard but hey! You’re still breathing, right!), you’re moving (thou not with the same agility you once had), you can afford new clothes as your waist expands & as long as your memory is o.k, you can always relive you’re youth & what you used to be capable of.
Well you know what? If you want it bad enough you’ll find the time, you’ll find the money and you’ll get those injuries addressed or find work around exercises to compensate.
Look at any heart attack survivor; actually… look at anyone that has had a health scare or decrepitating injury. All of a sudden quality of life is no.1 on the priority scale and they take action to get their life back better than before.
Bottom line to all this is that people are lazy and undisciplined, they don’t want to hurt themselves, it’s much easier to hang on to the mantra of “One day I’m gonna do something” – “Yep! One day sooner than later, you will be a gone-a...for sure!”
The Health Industry
Playing right along with peoples’ desires to be lazy is the majority of the “health industry” who hone in on those people that do get motivated to take that first tentative step.
Ever hear someone advertizing how hard it is to get fit, how hard you’re going to need to work, what really is required to get you back in shape.
Nope! It’s all easy, easy, easy…Let’s look at 3 areas:
Info commercials: 5 to 10 minutes a day on a simple exercise device that you can pay off in easy installments.
Health Clubs: 90 days to a new you…. hell easy!!
Supplement Companies: Take this and you’ll be looking like the Incredible Hulk or Ms World Fitness champ in no time– there’s a pill & a picture to go with each product for everyone.
Damon Hayhow from Biologic Labs in Queensland - who in my opinion is one of the best trainers in the country when it comes to changing your bodies composition, wrote an article, I thought was right on the money on how the gym experience has evolved & how the big clubs are catering more & more towards people’s laziness to earn a dollar.
(Check out Damon at www.biologiclabs.com )
For those that are old enough to remember, gym’s where once a place where you trained & I mean TRAINED!!
That was obviously too hard for most people and limited the gym owners income, so a new breed of pencil necked gym owners, with a focus on dollars changed the gym experience to Fitness Centres, advocating it’s easier to walk on a tread mill for 30 minutes and watch a few music videos’, perhaps toss around a few light weights to get you that desired look in no time… Yeah right!!
Truth is they know the lazy undisciplined punter will use his membership for a few weeks and bugger off because nothing has changed. They might as well of hung out with Norm & Cliff at "Cheers" and deposited their money down the urinal.
They’ll be gone but the direct debit will still be active keeping the coffers flowing.
Now we have the emergence of Wellness Centres which are designed for rich lazy people to do even less. They engage in all sorts of rehabilitation that would be better suited for road crash victims, listening to tranquil music while smelling the scent of various floral aromas.
Soiled Underpants
To be truthful they’d get more of a workout if they sniffed my underpants after I’d done a heavy squat session at the Muscle Pit– that would have them stampeding to the toilet area, (aerobically challenging, with agility work tossed in as they avoid those in their path), massive contortion of the face (there’s a heap of muscles used there) and a good stomach heave (abb work out) to finish off.
In Summary
It’s amazing but currently thumb of rule is the more dollars you part with the less you physically do to stress your nervous system – which is the catalyst to kick starting your metabolism to effect change.
If you are motivated to improve your health & increase your quality of life, good for you, I applaud you. Just remember doing something is better than doing nothing, but please don’t do something that is really nothing.
1. Set yourself a routine: Set days, set times.
2. Then tie it together with discipline:
Discipline to train consistently
Discipline to use weights that challenge you
Discipline when selecting the foods that go in your mouth
Finally to help you stay on track, find a workout partner or partners’. This will then obligate you to keep focus on your goals, keep your routine on track and they can help spot you on those heavy reps your about to push out.
Take Action…..
Cheers
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The Hardcore Gym... Who's Reality???
“Hey! Check out this gym it’s hardcore”
“…….. REALLY!!! “
Over the years I’ve heard the term “Hardcore Gym” bandied around by many people from all walks of life only to be disappointed at what I eventually saw and experienced when I finally got to train at “So & so’s hardcore gym”. In fact to be brutally honest reflecting on what I know today most of them weren’t worth a knob of goat shit.
It’s a phase I normally don’t give a second thought too as it has been used by so many gym owners in various marketing campaigns its lost all credibility in my eyes. That was until someone I know quite well, that hasn’t even stepped inside the walls of my own gym, (the muscle pit), said he didn’t want his son training there because he believed it was too hardcore and his boy just needed fitness for his sport. I won’t go into details of the preceding conversation however the point is it did get me thinking what the hell is a hardcore gym?
Have a think of what it means to you, & as you do, here is a myriad of people’s comments on what has been fed up to me over the years to support claims & views of hardcore gyms:
“So & so won some big bodybuilding contest and he runs the gym”
“So & so trains there” (ex - sporting champ - generally a bodybuilder)
“They have a whole lot of bodybuilders train there” (Substitute bodybuilder for doorman, local tough guy, gang members, etc..)
“They’ve got guys benching 3 plates (140Kg) aside”
“Man, they’ve got the latest Hammer strength machines “(substitute Hammer for Pantera, Nautlis, Flex etc...)
“It’s Gold’s gym … Arnold trained at Gold’s”
I’ve even had both a brand new chrome gym full of lycra and an old run down gym with decrepit equipment banging out George Thorogood music, tossed up to me as hardcore. - How much more diametrically opposed can you get?
From the small list above & probably combined with your own thoughts it’s a tuff one to be specific on, and I guess that’s the dilemma. Everyone has a different interpretation on what constitutes hardcore as it is generally based on your own gym experience, level of training knowledge & fitness goals.
Basically one man’s hardcore gym is another man’s “girly men” gym to coin half a phrase from Arnold.
So if it’s down to self evaluation here is my spin on the question of hardcore, split into various areas:
1. A hardcore gym must poses individuals with a focused & committed mindset.
To me hardcore starts at the front door, with you, the individual, & your approach to training. How focused you are on achieving your goals & demonstrating that commitment with consistency to training & nutrition both in and out of the gym. To have the will power to push yourself beyond your limits regardless of the level you are at today.
The more collective individuals like this you can squeeze under the same roof the more hardcore your facility will be regarded.
2. To have no fear of challengers is hardcore.
It’s then about harnessing that desire to be the best and still show good attitude & respect to others that train around you. A willingness to support, help-out & share information with others and encourage their ambitions. Nothing annoys me more than ass-holes who just take without giving back. It’s like they try to keep you down to stay ahead. I’ve always been of the belief the more you help others with their goals the more it will keep you moving towards your own goals.
3. Be inventive with the tools you use & always seek more knowledge. This helps develop a hardcore attitude.
As the owner of the Muscle Pit those that train there know my preference for equipment. First choice has always been for free weights, thou I will acknowledge machines do play their part, and as my focus has always been strength & conditioning, my tools of trade in no particular order will always consist of Olympic bars & weights, Glute-ham machine, Power racks with 1inch hole spacing, Reverse Hyper, Bands, Boards, Chains, Kettlebells, a decent Bench and a few Cambered Bars. These tools have been proven over time that with the right training template they produce results. The thing with training tools is you could spend a good chunk of Bill Gates fortune & still want more. When you have a good base of equipment it annoys me when I hear people blaming their tools of trade as hindering their progress when there is ton of work a rounds that can be utilized. You just need to build their knowledge base. “No excuses” is the mantra…
4. Respect of your training facility & peers will create a hardcore atmosphere.
The condition of the premises that houses the equipment I have no preference, old, new, it’s all the same to me. I couldn’t give a rats about air-conditioning and beautification as long as it’s not a slum & people put there weights back from where they got them. Putting weights away is a respect thing - you don’t shit in your own nest. (Unless you’re doing really heavy squats – that’s allowed… well more to the point, expected!!) Remember your training area is a temple – take ownership.
5. Stay 100% focused on the task at hand eliminating all distractions is hardcore.
Music has always played a big part in the gym experience ever since Olivia Newton-John paraded around in a leotard to “physical”. Which is juxtaposed to most powerlifting & strength facilities which shroud themselves in forms of metal music: heavy, death, black, thrash, glam, stoner, death-core, rap, gothic etc…, Frankly, I don’t care most of it just makes me mad. I don’t need sounds to pump me up to get the job done. If someone farts when lifting encourage them to shit. It shows there putting in, don’t snigger & laugh, concentrate at the task at hand you’ve heard & smelt worse.
Here are a few extra thoughts on the topic:
Most gyms today are measured in dollars while hardcore gyms are measured in results.
Hardcore doesn’t mean you bust ass over training, repping every set to failure to the point you are puking up all over yourself & the floor. Train hard, train smart. Hardcore Gym is not Stupid Gym.
Hardcore gyms should educate & inspire you.
The equipment purchased for these gyms are done so because it’s the shit that works and fits with proven training templates.
There must be a thirst within the place for knowledge & more importantly people that can gift that to others.
Chalk is allowed to be used.
Summary
So… Did any of the above match-up with your definition of hardcore?
As I said earlier we are all different in our evaluation of what it takes to make a hardcore gym. All the above I have tried to instill into the crew at Muscle Pit. However I’m uncomfortable to call it hardcore as in my eyes we still have a bit of a journey to go and a lot to achieve before it can wear that mantle in my eyes - Maybe it never will.
Here is a little something someone once told me in reference to training facilities and maybe applicable here “It’s not the gym… it’s the animal in the gym.”
“…….. REALLY!!! “
Over the years I’ve heard the term “Hardcore Gym” bandied around by many people from all walks of life only to be disappointed at what I eventually saw and experienced when I finally got to train at “So & so’s hardcore gym”. In fact to be brutally honest reflecting on what I know today most of them weren’t worth a knob of goat shit.
It’s a phase I normally don’t give a second thought too as it has been used by so many gym owners in various marketing campaigns its lost all credibility in my eyes. That was until someone I know quite well, that hasn’t even stepped inside the walls of my own gym, (the muscle pit), said he didn’t want his son training there because he believed it was too hardcore and his boy just needed fitness for his sport. I won’t go into details of the preceding conversation however the point is it did get me thinking what the hell is a hardcore gym?
Have a think of what it means to you, & as you do, here is a myriad of people’s comments on what has been fed up to me over the years to support claims & views of hardcore gyms:
“So & so won some big bodybuilding contest and he runs the gym”
“So & so trains there” (ex - sporting champ - generally a bodybuilder)
“They have a whole lot of bodybuilders train there” (Substitute bodybuilder for doorman, local tough guy, gang members, etc..)
“They’ve got guys benching 3 plates (140Kg) aside”
“Man, they’ve got the latest Hammer strength machines “(substitute Hammer for Pantera, Nautlis, Flex etc...)
“It’s Gold’s gym … Arnold trained at Gold’s”
I’ve even had both a brand new chrome gym full of lycra and an old run down gym with decrepit equipment banging out George Thorogood music, tossed up to me as hardcore. - How much more diametrically opposed can you get?
From the small list above & probably combined with your own thoughts it’s a tuff one to be specific on, and I guess that’s the dilemma. Everyone has a different interpretation on what constitutes hardcore as it is generally based on your own gym experience, level of training knowledge & fitness goals.
Basically one man’s hardcore gym is another man’s “girly men” gym to coin half a phrase from Arnold.
So if it’s down to self evaluation here is my spin on the question of hardcore, split into various areas:
1. A hardcore gym must poses individuals with a focused & committed mindset.
To me hardcore starts at the front door, with you, the individual, & your approach to training. How focused you are on achieving your goals & demonstrating that commitment with consistency to training & nutrition both in and out of the gym. To have the will power to push yourself beyond your limits regardless of the level you are at today.
The more collective individuals like this you can squeeze under the same roof the more hardcore your facility will be regarded.
2. To have no fear of challengers is hardcore.
It’s then about harnessing that desire to be the best and still show good attitude & respect to others that train around you. A willingness to support, help-out & share information with others and encourage their ambitions. Nothing annoys me more than ass-holes who just take without giving back. It’s like they try to keep you down to stay ahead. I’ve always been of the belief the more you help others with their goals the more it will keep you moving towards your own goals.
3. Be inventive with the tools you use & always seek more knowledge. This helps develop a hardcore attitude.
As the owner of the Muscle Pit those that train there know my preference for equipment. First choice has always been for free weights, thou I will acknowledge machines do play their part, and as my focus has always been strength & conditioning, my tools of trade in no particular order will always consist of Olympic bars & weights, Glute-ham machine, Power racks with 1inch hole spacing, Reverse Hyper, Bands, Boards, Chains, Kettlebells, a decent Bench and a few Cambered Bars. These tools have been proven over time that with the right training template they produce results. The thing with training tools is you could spend a good chunk of Bill Gates fortune & still want more. When you have a good base of equipment it annoys me when I hear people blaming their tools of trade as hindering their progress when there is ton of work a rounds that can be utilized. You just need to build their knowledge base. “No excuses” is the mantra…
4. Respect of your training facility & peers will create a hardcore atmosphere.
The condition of the premises that houses the equipment I have no preference, old, new, it’s all the same to me. I couldn’t give a rats about air-conditioning and beautification as long as it’s not a slum & people put there weights back from where they got them. Putting weights away is a respect thing - you don’t shit in your own nest. (Unless you’re doing really heavy squats – that’s allowed… well more to the point, expected!!) Remember your training area is a temple – take ownership.
5. Stay 100% focused on the task at hand eliminating all distractions is hardcore.
Music has always played a big part in the gym experience ever since Olivia Newton-John paraded around in a leotard to “physical”. Which is juxtaposed to most powerlifting & strength facilities which shroud themselves in forms of metal music: heavy, death, black, thrash, glam, stoner, death-core, rap, gothic etc…, Frankly, I don’t care most of it just makes me mad. I don’t need sounds to pump me up to get the job done. If someone farts when lifting encourage them to shit. It shows there putting in, don’t snigger & laugh, concentrate at the task at hand you’ve heard & smelt worse.
Here are a few extra thoughts on the topic:
Most gyms today are measured in dollars while hardcore gyms are measured in results.
Hardcore doesn’t mean you bust ass over training, repping every set to failure to the point you are puking up all over yourself & the floor. Train hard, train smart. Hardcore Gym is not Stupid Gym.
Hardcore gyms should educate & inspire you.
The equipment purchased for these gyms are done so because it’s the shit that works and fits with proven training templates.
There must be a thirst within the place for knowledge & more importantly people that can gift that to others.
Chalk is allowed to be used.
Summary
So… Did any of the above match-up with your definition of hardcore?
As I said earlier we are all different in our evaluation of what it takes to make a hardcore gym. All the above I have tried to instill into the crew at Muscle Pit. However I’m uncomfortable to call it hardcore as in my eyes we still have a bit of a journey to go and a lot to achieve before it can wear that mantle in my eyes - Maybe it never will.
Here is a little something someone once told me in reference to training facilities and maybe applicable here “It’s not the gym… it’s the animal in the gym.”
Friday, April 17, 2009
2 Bar Partial Deadlift - Mechanical Ox Style
We found this adaptation of the mechanical Ox at Mark Roskill's, Toronto Barbell site. We set this up slightly different by using 2 monster mini bands to add more top end tension to the lift and also to help stabilize the bar. As this movement predominantly works top end strength we've found it best to work it as a partial movement. This is a great exercise that places a copious amount of stress on the body from the start to the finish. A big thank you to Mark Roskill,... from the crew at the Muscle Pit.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Dick-Heads & The Importance of Technique
Had a dick head visit the MusclePit the other day. After crapping on for about 15 minutes on what he could bench, (240Kg raw for reps at 100kg body weight – the Australian Record by the way is 245Kg held by Adam Coe) he asked me to critique his bench. Hey, what the hell, I thought. I’m always keen to unearth the next big thing. The guy proceeded to warm up & begin his bench cycle to which he managed to bounce off his chest an undie stained 160Kg, which is pretty good for a novice weighing around 100Kg, but a long way from 240Kg.
After 5 minutes of excuses of why he never hit anywhere near 240Kg let alone 200Kg., which included, “I trained bench last night” , “ I have tendonitis of the elbows”, “not used to the bench”, “Haven’t eaten much today”. He asked… “So what do you think of my form”
Now the kid does have raw power & with a bit of technique training, coupled with strengthening a few glaring weaknesses, he has the potential to build a decent bench… I thought.
I started my reply acknowledging his raw strength & his good points. Then suggested to advance his bench he’d need to strengthen his triceps as this is his weak point at this stage and as I’ve said 100 times a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I also suggested he could improve his bench by tucking his elbows to bring his lat’s into play, which would create more stability on the concentric phase of the lift, plus add power off his chest. His grip on the bar could go wider which would cut distance off the lift and he needed to develop some drive with his legs.
His summation of that info was "if I tuck my elbows I can’t lift as much", "I’ve never got any benefit from driving with my legs" and "I don’t feel comfortable using a wider grip", "My triceps are bit off today".
“So why the hell ask?” I thought. If your happy with your progress just continue doing what you’re doing. If you want someone to blow smoke up your butt, go to Langtreys (Perth’s local brothel).
It amazes me how short sighted some people are, sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone even to the point you may temporarily lift less to move beyond where you are today, especially if your lifts have stalled with no improvement for some time. Without a doubt with correct technique & a good work ethic he could dramatically improve. However with a crap attitude & over inflated ego this kid’s biggest lifts are always going to be of the verbal diarrhea kind.
One of the things I’ve tried to install in our novice lifters at the Muscle Pit is correct technique right from the start as the whole purpose for the powerlifter is to lift as much weight as possible. Technique is basically the template a lifter incorporates to build the best leverages possible. If you have good technique you can stress your strong points & eliminate weakness. More importantly it helps prevent injury.
From our own experience at the Muscle Pit we found some lifters weights initially went backwards, however as we built up their weakness they have all exceeded their old lifts and have developed an excellent base to keep advancing..... The Moral here is sometimes you need to go back one step to move forward two.
Oh! Yeah and second moral if you want to train at the Muscle Pit leave your ego at the front door or you’ll be out of here faster than a cat can lick it's ass with it's tail up and it's tongue out.
Cheers…..
After 5 minutes of excuses of why he never hit anywhere near 240Kg let alone 200Kg., which included, “I trained bench last night” , “ I have tendonitis of the elbows”, “not used to the bench”, “Haven’t eaten much today”. He asked… “So what do you think of my form”
Now the kid does have raw power & with a bit of technique training, coupled with strengthening a few glaring weaknesses, he has the potential to build a decent bench… I thought.
I started my reply acknowledging his raw strength & his good points. Then suggested to advance his bench he’d need to strengthen his triceps as this is his weak point at this stage and as I’ve said 100 times a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I also suggested he could improve his bench by tucking his elbows to bring his lat’s into play, which would create more stability on the concentric phase of the lift, plus add power off his chest. His grip on the bar could go wider which would cut distance off the lift and he needed to develop some drive with his legs.
His summation of that info was "if I tuck my elbows I can’t lift as much", "I’ve never got any benefit from driving with my legs" and "I don’t feel comfortable using a wider grip", "My triceps are bit off today".
“So why the hell ask?” I thought. If your happy with your progress just continue doing what you’re doing. If you want someone to blow smoke up your butt, go to Langtreys (Perth’s local brothel).
It amazes me how short sighted some people are, sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone even to the point you may temporarily lift less to move beyond where you are today, especially if your lifts have stalled with no improvement for some time. Without a doubt with correct technique & a good work ethic he could dramatically improve. However with a crap attitude & over inflated ego this kid’s biggest lifts are always going to be of the verbal diarrhea kind.
One of the things I’ve tried to install in our novice lifters at the Muscle Pit is correct technique right from the start as the whole purpose for the powerlifter is to lift as much weight as possible. Technique is basically the template a lifter incorporates to build the best leverages possible. If you have good technique you can stress your strong points & eliminate weakness. More importantly it helps prevent injury.
From our own experience at the Muscle Pit we found some lifters weights initially went backwards, however as we built up their weakness they have all exceeded their old lifts and have developed an excellent base to keep advancing..... The Moral here is sometimes you need to go back one step to move forward two.
Oh! Yeah and second moral if you want to train at the Muscle Pit leave your ego at the front door or you’ll be out of here faster than a cat can lick it's ass with it's tail up and it's tongue out.
Cheers…..
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Welcome
Hi Folks,
Well here it is Muscle Pit's blog site. What I'll throw up here is a few thoughts, views & opinions of whats happening in my world, the world of strength & "The Pit". If you have any thing you'd like to hear my thoughts on feel free to ask. Just remember if you ask the question you'll get a no B.S reply here... so if you can't handle the truth, don't ask. I hope you enjoy the journey...
Cheers... Henry
Well here it is Muscle Pit's blog site. What I'll throw up here is a few thoughts, views & opinions of whats happening in my world, the world of strength & "The Pit". If you have any thing you'd like to hear my thoughts on feel free to ask. Just remember if you ask the question you'll get a no B.S reply here... so if you can't handle the truth, don't ask. I hope you enjoy the journey...
Cheers... Henry
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