Went to a memorial service the other day for a co-worker's father. His name was Bob Hamilton and he was a World War 2 vet. They say 1,000 WWII vets are dying every day, which shows we are rapidly losing this great generation. The service was not sad, but rather a celebration of his life. Fittingly, he passed away on Father's Day.
When Bob was 40 he suffered a serious heart attack and was given just 8 years to live. In all likelihood, he has outlived the doctor who gave this premature death sentence. Did Bob live his life in worry, stressing that he only had a short time to live? Heck no. He lived a full life of service in many areas, which of course included the military during the thick of things, 1940-1945. He enjoyed many years of farming and travel and thanked God for his abilty to work and provide for his family.
Why am I posting this today? Because no one knows what their fate is. And for certain, no doctor can possibly predict someone's fate to that extent. That is why doctoring is known as a "practice" - they couldn't possibly know what is exactly happening in a person's body. Just the same, no trainer can piece together someone's physical history and know how their body had to adapt to a lifetime of injuries or imbalances. Or know what their genetic predisposition is. That's why one must use the Gym Movement protocol and listen to their body. Did Bob sometimes feel weak and flustered after working hard on his farm? I don't know. But I do know he lived 43 years LONGER than he was "supposed" to.
So while it is fine to read and research many different sources, realize that no one knows exactly what you need. That is, but YOU.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Cleaning out the garage
After nearly six months of prep time (and 8 years since his passing), my dad's estate is finally online with K-Bid. Since he owned over 100 cars, it is not surprising that he had literally TONS of car parts and accessories. Most auctions are 1-2 pages at most, but this one hit 7 pages. Wow.
What does this have to do with training? Well, I used to be a collector like my dad. I bought every single book and DVD on training that I could get my hands on. I read several magazines every month. Online, I compared notes and comments on every training system there was. What did I get? A lot of confusion, that's what. Everyone was an expert, and all of them wanted to sell me something.
I grew up reading about the bodybuilding of Arnold and Bill Pearl. I also read a lot about powerlifting, which I really enjoyed and even competed a few times. But lifting only two days a week made me feel strong and slow; I was always tired and had no endurance. This led me to try kettlebells, and I must say they are wonderful tools. But after years of using their "high tension" model I began to break down. Injuries and the inability to improve my flexibility and mobility led me to Z Health. Joint mobility really helped my training injuries and lowered my tension level drastically. My gait improved and my left ankle that had been broken became very mobile and allowed me to get back into sports I had given up on, such as downhill skiing.
But going back to my roots, my heart was always into lifting weights. Even with all the joint mobility in the world and I still had not been breaking my personal lifting records. But I did set a PR with chiropractic visits. In fact, I was just about ready to quit lifting when Mike T Nelson led me to the Gym Movement protocol designed by Frankie Faires and championed by Adam T Glass. This protocol made me LISTEN to my body, not someone else. To be internally governed and externally guided. I have never felt better and my personal records are falling on a regular basis.
Back on task: I could go on and on about GM, but simply put I am done collecting. I am done listening to others. Yes, there are many ways to skin a cat, but actually using biofeedback and listeing to your body TRUMPS all other methods out there. Adam T simply said he is not trying to add to your "toolbox", rather to clean out the garage! And like getting the auction online, it is so darn rewarding when you have a clean slate and have a clear picture of where you are going.
Amen to that:)
What does this have to do with training? Well, I used to be a collector like my dad. I bought every single book and DVD on training that I could get my hands on. I read several magazines every month. Online, I compared notes and comments on every training system there was. What did I get? A lot of confusion, that's what. Everyone was an expert, and all of them wanted to sell me something.
I grew up reading about the bodybuilding of Arnold and Bill Pearl. I also read a lot about powerlifting, which I really enjoyed and even competed a few times. But lifting only two days a week made me feel strong and slow; I was always tired and had no endurance. This led me to try kettlebells, and I must say they are wonderful tools. But after years of using their "high tension" model I began to break down. Injuries and the inability to improve my flexibility and mobility led me to Z Health. Joint mobility really helped my training injuries and lowered my tension level drastically. My gait improved and my left ankle that had been broken became very mobile and allowed me to get back into sports I had given up on, such as downhill skiing.
But going back to my roots, my heart was always into lifting weights. Even with all the joint mobility in the world and I still had not been breaking my personal lifting records. But I did set a PR with chiropractic visits. In fact, I was just about ready to quit lifting when Mike T Nelson led me to the Gym Movement protocol designed by Frankie Faires and championed by Adam T Glass. This protocol made me LISTEN to my body, not someone else. To be internally governed and externally guided. I have never felt better and my personal records are falling on a regular basis.
Back on task: I could go on and on about GM, but simply put I am done collecting. I am done listening to others. Yes, there are many ways to skin a cat, but actually using biofeedback and listeing to your body TRUMPS all other methods out there. Adam T simply said he is not trying to add to your "toolbox", rather to clean out the garage! And like getting the auction online, it is so darn rewarding when you have a clean slate and have a clear picture of where you are going.
Amen to that:)
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