Gym Jerks

The Gym Jerks

If you have ever belonged to a gym or "Fitness Facility" then you probably have seen the following list of people. These are the people that you look at and just shake your head and think, WHY?! Now, here is the thing, if you don't agree with one of these, well, then you probably are that guy.

1. Hair Gel Guy - You are just about to go to the gym, so it is clearly a priority to freshly gel your hair. Don't argue with me because, you did, I saw you, you fixed it up in the locker room. Seriously guy, I hope it gets in your eyes and burns.
2. Stares at Abs Guy - You just did a mean set of arm curls, so you take a glance at your abs. Really guy, No one cares, stop looking at them in the mirror. You are only making an ass out of yourself.
3. The Poser - Let me do a flex down in the middle of the gym so everyone can see me. You most likely are not a body builder, stop flexing in the mirror. Again, you look like an idiot.
4. Fatties in Spandex - Spandex/compression clothing is not outerwear. It is tolerable when the 25 y/o pilates instructor with the firm body parts wears it, not when the rhinoceros does. If you really wanna wear it, put a shirt over it.
5. Spandex Guy - Everyone goes to the gym to see the outline of your man parts? Seriously bro? We aren't in a bicycle race, put on some normal clothing.
6. Headband Guy - 80s ended a few years back...
7. Loud Talker - I have nothing of true value to say so I yell it to the person next to me so I feel important. Why are you screaming, he's right next to you
8. The Screamer - Grunting happens and is natural even, screaming, not so much. Bro, you aren't that strong, it isn't that much weight, why are you screaming after every rep? 
9. High Schoolers - Let's work out in a big group and stand around for 2 hours curling dumbbells and bench pressing... On Point.
10. Guy Who Hits On Every Attractive Female - Unless you are over 60, it is just desperate and creepy...
11. Naked Old Man - The locker room is a place where you change, shower, and decompress. You don't use the hair dryer on your pruned up body. You don't stand naked and have full conversations. And you never, never, walk over to someone while they are sitting on a bench and put your business all up in their face.  

Don't let yourself become one of these guys...

TMNT

Today's post has nothing to do with Athletics. Absolutely nothing. It actually is all about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yes, I know, this has no place on a fitness blog, but I guess it is a part of mental well being. Bare with me, I'm loosely relating it so I can justify the post. Earlier today I received notice that Nickelodeon was going to be bringing back TMNT, which is awesome. Obviously it is not going to be as good as the original from the late 80's and early 90's. However,it is the ninja turtles, and with a little nephew, I am very excited to start buying him TMNT toys. So Nickelodeon, great job! Now due to this revelation, I began searching YouTube for clips of the upcoming series. In my research I discovered that there will be a new installment of the Ninja Turtles in theaters. Words could not express my happiness, or so I thought. Further digging lead me to an awful secret, the new movie, week, has changed their origin! No longer are they Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Producer Michael Bay has ruined my childhood, the Ninja Turtles are going to be Aliens from another galaxy. What!?!? Michael Bay did a good job with Transformers, has made some decent explosions in movies, but Jesus man, I'm drawing a line. You don't fuck with someone's childhood, nor do you fuck with the Ninja Turtles. So in conclusion I say Fuck You Michael Bay!

The Coaches You Meet

It can be very difficult working with athletes. What makes things even more difficult is working with athletes who have different coaches (HS Athletes). No matter how in sync you may think you and the coach are, your ideals are going to be different. 

Differing ideas make sense. When personally training an athlete, or rehabbing an athlete, you have one goal, make that individual better than they were before you hooked up. Working with an individual gives you the chance to do so, however a coach doesn't have that ability.  A coach must work with the team, and in doing so, must work with a variety of skill levels and abilities.

When it comes to designing a training regimen, a coach is going to generalize their attack. More often then not, they are going to create a work out for the AVERAGE athlete on their specific team. The better the coach, the more sport specific the work outs of course.

There are a few different types of coaches that you will deal with as either an Athlete, Strength Coach, Athletic Trainer, or even parent.

Seasonal Coach - The seasonal coach goes out their from day 1 of pre-season to the last game of the play-offs (hopefully not though, because he/she can't get paid extra).  This type of coach is in it for the money, granted he/she usually has an interest and take enjoyment in the sport. He/she doesn't care if his/her athlete gets outside help, it means he/she can do less as a coach. Generally, not a great coach.

Overbearing Coach - This coach, on paper, is a great coach. He/she is 100% committed to his/her teams, to a fault. He/she will eat, live, and breathe the sport. Only problem with this coach is that everything must be done his/her way. If your ideas differ from his/her philosophies you are considered a cancer. If anything you do or say that is different, he/she will tell everyone that you do not know what you are talking about. Apparently being a professional in a specified area isn't enough for this coach.

Hungry Coach - This coach wants to get results. He/she is extremely eager to learn about every aspect of his/her specific sport. He/she is open to anything and anyone, as he/she hasn't really established himself/herself in the sport. As one professional to another, this is by far the best coach to work with, as this coach respects the ideas of outside help, especially when he/she truly does not know what he/she is talking about.

Burnt Out Coach - This coach has been doing things one way for years. Sure, he/she had results back in the 70s, but times sure have changed. He/she doesn't adapt to anything, and try to get everything to adapt to his/her ways. This coach has the love and desire, but is very stubborn. He/she has been around and if they had any success, it was in the beginning of their tenure.

There are plenty of other coaches, many that are combinations of the above. Coaches are a fickle bunch, no way around it. However, if you find yourself involved with any of the coaches, remember, keep doing things your way, as long as you continue to see results.

Couples Weight

It is a Scientific fact that when in a relationship you will gain weight

Despite the fact that I have not actually done any hard scientific research on the topic, you gain weight when you are in a relationship. It is inevitable that, eventually, your waistline will grow with your relationship. I'm not saying you will gain 30lbs or that you no longer have to stay fit, I'm just stating a fact. Ask anyone around you, when in a relationship they eventually start gaining an inch or two.

Why?

Well think about it, what do couples do most together... EAT. Most dates are designed around the concept of some sort of meal. Think of the most cliche date in the world, dinner and a movie. You go out and you eat, or when the other person snacks, you snack. It isn't a bad thing, it is only something that, in the moment, you are not conscious of.

Then think of this, if one of you says to the other, "I'm getting fat," what is the other going to respond with? "No you are not!" (Unless of course you are either A) an a-hole or B) Brutally honest with one another.) **Addendum to my original thought, the woman can say the man is getting fat without any repercussions. 

It is a vicious cycle, one that isn't going to break. Now you can still be eating healthy, exercising, and doing everything right. However, without that drive to look good to attract someone of the other sex, you aren't as tone as you once were. 

Obviously you want to fight this, you want to look like you did when you first met. Nothing is really stopping you, except for yourself, and maybe that significant other who constantly cooks you great meals and you can't help but to eat it all. Ask my lady friend, she doesn't cook, so I have no excuse, HA!

Protein!! Nom Nom Nom

I want everyone to know, Protein Supplementation is not necessary. You don’t have to take a protein supplement to get big and strong, but it doesn’t hurt. That being said, everyone is going to tell you to take protein, why, because it is what your muscles are made of. So if you eat more protein, there will be more to produce muscles, right? If only it were so simple, but for the sake of time let’s assume this is a somewhat accurate idea.

When you think about it, Protein is Protein, but not all protein is created equal, right? Most individuals do not know the difference between the inordinate amounts of Protein Powders. Do you buy the Herbalife, Muscle Tech, Muscle Pharm, Muscle Milk, BSN, etc, etc; there are just too many options.  Then each brand gets more specific with their Whey, Soy, or Casein powders. It is just so much to handle and so much to take in. Some of the proteins digest quicker than others, some take longer to digest on purpose. Taking all of this into account will help to determine when or how to ingest the specific protein products.

So why should we bother with all the confusion? Why even take a protein supplement? The answer is simple, most people don’t eat correctly. Our culture is one surrounding carbs, from breads/grains. Just look at our food table, proportionately; everything is geared towards the grains. Meats aren’t that important by comparison, neither are the fruits and vegetables.

**Side Note** Fruits are carbs, good carbs, simple carbs that are quickly broken down into glucose, the starting block for creating Adenosine Triphosphate, ATP, and basic unit of Energy in our bodies. Therefore glucose leads to the creation of ATP or energy. So fruits and vegetables are digested quickly, and create immediate energy.

Back to protein, our body needs it because it is made up of it. So unless you are eating a lot of meats get a protein supplement. Read the labels; buy something based on your needs. Whey is fast acting, usually comes packed with lots of BCAA’s, EAA’s, and Vitamins. It is a good, post workout drink, or even used as a meal, snack, during the day. Casein is slow acting, absorbs over a longer period of time. So if you aren’t going to be eating for a little while, like at night when you’re sleeping, Casein is the protein for you. Both of these are Milk byproducts, so if you have an allergy, you need an alternative source, Egg Protein. Eggs are magical, just ask the nearest body builder, nutritionist, or personal trainer. Eggs are little powder kegs of goodness.

Oneresult.com has a great article on the different proteins and their usages. Check it out, let me know what you think. I’m sure it will be rather informational.