Conditioning Research

Last week I had a chat over Skype with Matt Metzgar and Marc Van Dam  (of Feel Good Eating ).  I suppose you could call it a podcast of sorts, but none of us would want to come across as gurus.  We just discussed a few things together, things in which we are interested and around which we have each pondered over the last few years. Matt recorded the conversation and we have been trying to work out how to host it on our blogs.  I think I have managed it!  This was the first time each of us had done this and I know we felt like we rambled a bit, but the key thing was that we enjoyed the chat and we are sharing it so that you can listen in too. (or download the mp3 ) We talked through the following topics 1) Strength – 05:44 2) Sleep – 19:10 3) Quick Simple Meals – 24:45 4) Skill/Efficient Movement - 32:12 5) Chronic Cardio – 40:00 6) Posture/Abs - 51:35 7) Stress - 58:50 8) Heart Disease - 1:03:50 9) Good Thoughts - 1:11:0...

Bruce Lee is quoted as saying, "Before I learned martial arts, a punch was just a punch and a kick was just a kick. When I studied martial arts, a punch was no longer just a punch and a kick was no longer just a kick. Now I understand martial arts, and a punch is just a punch and a kick is just a kick." I was thinking of this idea this morning as I was walking in the hills  near Edinburgh in some wild weather.  Yesterday afternoon I had the great pleasure of a Skype conversation with a couple of great guys - Marc and Matt.  If you are  not familiar with them please check out their blogs:  Marc - Feel Good Eating Matt - Matt Metzgar  Musings on Health & Other Topics We spoke about a number of things but kept coming back to the simple ideas:  go to bed early, eat well, stand up straight, cultivate friendships, look on the bright side, get and stay strong, play. Like Bruce Lee says, we can get ourselves so enmeshed in the compl...

I want that blogger's secret knowledge Increasingly I am finding that so much of the fitness & fitness blogosphere is a strange place which I am seeing more as a form of gnosticism.  Let me explain: Gnosticism I suppose is something of a theological term.   From Wikipedia Gnosticism comes from the Greek : gnosis which means knowledge. Some religions and sects mostly in the few hundred years before and after Christ are said to be gnostic or practice gnosticism. This is because these religions believe that there is a special, hidden knowledge that only a few people may have . Not to get into the theological aspects of all this, look at that last sentence: these religions believe that there is a special, hidden knowledge that only a few people may have.   Gurus & Salesmen So often we treat our interest in Health and Fitness this way.  We are on a constant search for the  "special, hidden knowledge".  The are looking f...

eggs are not so bad after all: Use 'em, don't lose 'em! Eating egg yolks adds nutritious benefits New research suggests that consuming whole eggs may improve blood lipids Of course eggs are nutritious.  Funny of course that the press release is from the American Egg Board! About the American Egg Board (AEB) AEB is the U.S. egg producer's link to the consumer in communicating the value of The incredible edible egg™ and is funded from a national legislative checkoff on all egg production from companies with greater than 75,000 layers, in the continental United States. The board consists of 18 members and 18 alternates from all regions of the country who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. The AEB staff carries out the programs under the board direction. AEB is located in Park Ridge, Ill. Visit  www.IncredibleEgg.org  for more information.

This is a topic that keeps coming up time and time again.  It may be another example of us always seeking the secret knowledge, the magic key that will suddenly solve all our problems with muscle gain and fat loss.... Anyway there is research going on.  This full paper is available Protein timing and its effects on muscular hypertrophy and strength in individuals engaged in weight-training In general, protein supplementation pre- and post-workout increases physical performance, training session recovery, lean body mass, muscle hypertrophy, and strength

It was good to interview and train with Erwan  over 2 years ago..... Be sure to check out his new website and podcast

So what the heck is a Hoo-rag ?  That is what I thought when I received the email asking if I wanted to try one and write a review.  Intrigued I asked if they would send one to Scotland and there was no problem.  A week later it arrived. Ah.....it is a Buff!  Well it is similar but the Hoo-rag is its own thing. Maybe you are none the wiser?  These bits of clothing are very versatile and useful items that I have come to trust and rely on in both hot and cold weather.  A simple, seamless tube of lightweight, wicking cotton/polyester that can serve in lots of ways.  I use mine as a hat - they make simple beanies;  a wrap around my wrist to soak up sweat; a bandana.....and most often a neck gaiter on cold days.  Best of all on a cold day is pulling the tube up from around the neck so that it covers the mouth and nose and ears. Breathing in and out through the material warms to freezing air and takes the chil...