Small but Mighty!

The phrase is so simple, yet it can say so much.  Small but Mighty.

Like celebrities, or iconic figures whose names become known as 'household names'...the phrase Small but Mighty could be considered a household phrase.  A phrase that has been used by so many people, to explain or define so many different things.

Today's post is going to be just that...small but mighty.  Okay, you're right...that's not proper grammar.  What do you expect?  I'm not a writer...just a blogger.  I don't have to, nor am I expected to use proper sentence structure when I put pen to paper, so to speak.  

Did anyone see that squirrel?

Hang on a second, while I circle back to what I was writing...sorry, blogging about.  Small but Mighty...yep, that's it.

Many of you who follow my life through the crystal ball of the 21st century - Facebook - know that I am involved with an amazing charitable organization; The Free Wheel Foundation.  You also know that the Free Wheel Foundation raises money for our countries fallen heroes, and their families, through a cycling event that is now known as The Ride 430 Challenge.  Last but not least, you also know that our team's training and fundraising efforts are in full swing, as we approach the start date of our 2014 Ride 430 Challenge...which by the way begins on October 8, and ends on October 11.  

Okay, one more thing!  You also probably know how passionate I am about this charity, and those who our efforts benefit.  When I tell you that, as I write this post, my eyes literally fill with tears as I think about the experiences I have had...in just my first year...I am being completely honest with you.  

Anyway...

Saturday mornings are Ride 430 team training days, and by the time October 8, 2014 rolls around, our team will have logged, literally, tens of thousands of miles on their bikes in preparation for our ride.  I tell you this not to boast, but to give you a better understanding of just how much this means to all of us...to honor, and to give back to those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms that we, so often, take for granted.

I'm not going to lie...it's not always easy rolling out of bed at 4am to drive for an hour, to meet my teammates - my family - for a ride.  This morning when my alarm went off, I walked over to the window, and prayed that it would be raining outside.

It wasn't.

I loaded up and headed out to east Mesa, where many of our team rides begin...and of course, end.  We typically have anywhere between 10 and 20 riders.  Today however, our turnout was a bit small.  Small but Mighty.  There were only five of us today.  We did hook up with another one of our teammates along the road...and then we were six.

Small but...Mightier.

It's very fitting really.  You see, The Ride 430 Challenge team in it's entirety, is relatively small.  Make no mistake however...we are mighty!  The best way for me to drive home just how mighty we are, is by providing some comparative statistics.  Again, I'm not boasting here...well, maybe I am...and justifiably so.

From year to year, our team could include anywhere between 40-60 riders.  Many of us are from Arizona, but we are joined by some incredible people who make the journey from as far away as the East Coast, to be a part of this amazing journey.  Comparatively speaking, at most cycling (charitable) events, you could see hundreds...even thousands of riders ready to take part in either a race or a 'fun ride' that benefits a particular organization, or even an individual person.  The national average for the amount of money raised by any given rider (for the charitable cycling event) is just under $190 per rider.  In 2013 our team's average was nearly $7,000 per rider!

Small but Mighty.

Collectively, in 2013, our team raised nearly $550, 000 for our three partner charities...of which, roughly ninety-cents per each dollar raised goes directly towards supporting those charities.  The national average for charitable cycling events is about $12,000 per charity.

Small but Mighty.

I'm close to wrapping this up, but I feel the need to share one more thing with you before clicking on the publish button.  

As we were riding today, I couldn't help but think about another Small but Mighty team, who fought to protect the freedom of people they never knew, and will never have the opportunity to meet.  Many of those who protect our freedom from the front lines, work in Small but Mighty teams...often covertly.  If you have never read the book, or seen the film Lone Survivor, I encourage you to do both.  It is the real-life story of a team of four US Navy Seals whose mission was compromised, ultimately forcing them to make, quite possibly, the most difficult decision of their lives.  Three of the four were killed as they bravely fought off an army of roughly 100 Taliban soldiers.  The lone survivor, Chief Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, lived to tell the story and honor is fallen brothers.  Many others also died during efforts to rescue these heroes.

As I rode today, legs screaming at me,  and my body wanting to give up and quit...I kept repeating to myself the words of US Navy Seal, Lt. Michael Murphy shortly before his death.  He told Marcus Luttrell "You're never out of the fight".  

While my fight today, was certainly nothing like what they experienced, or what our troops experience daily, it was a battle that I needed to get through.  Those words, and the thought of those men making the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom...kept me going.

Small but Mighty.

You are Worth the Gift...Absolutely worth it!

This past weekend I made a short trip to Atlanta for business, conducting movement assessments for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. On my return flight, I had the pleasure of sitting next to a young man, who I noticed was wearing what appeared to be an honor bracelet.  Those of you who are close to my age will remember the old metal POW bracelets that were so popular in the seventies.  That is exactly what this looked like...and it certainly grabbed my attention.

"I couldn't help but notice your bracelet" I said.  "Do you have family or friends in the service?" I asked..."or are you serving?"

"I'm in the army" he responded, "just heading back from training at Fort Bragg."  I quickly reached out to shake his hand, as I thanked him for his service to our country.  It's odd to think that just over a year ago, I would be hesitant to do so.  I'm not sure why, but I what I do know is that my involvement with The Ride 430 Challenge has absolutely changed my life.  I have become patriotic...and forever grateful to those who have served our country, and to those loved ones in their lives who have also sacrificed for our freedom.

As is the same with me when people thank me for what I do...this gentleman responded with a sincerely humble "Thanks, but there's really no need...it's my job, and I am proud to do it."

As we taxied toward the runway, he and I spoke about his job, or MOS within the Army.  Come to find out, he is a tank commander who has been deployed three times in the past few years.  He had just completed some leadership training at Fort Bragg, and had recently been "volun-told" (as he put it) that he would be taking a recruiter spot in Sacramento so that he could remain stateside with his family for a while.  He didn't say as much, but I got the distinct feeling that there were some family issues that might benefit from him being nearby for the time being.

As we were talking, he looked down and noticed my bracelets...my Ride 430 bracelet and my MARSOC Foundation bracelet.  "I'm familiar with MARSOC, but what is the Ride 430?" he asked.  I proceeded to tell him all about our ride, and what our mission is...to raise much needed financial support for injured US military personnel and their families.  I also told him about The MARSOC Foundation, as well as our other partners, The Knights of Heroes Foundation, and Jared Allen's Homes for Heroes Foundation.  As I spoke, his eyes filled with tears, and he hung his head and slowly shook it from side to side.  "Is everything okay?" I asked.  He responded by telling me that he could not believe there were people out there willing to do so much for people they didn't even know.  

I couldn't help but laugh...not because I thought what he was saying was funny, but because I could not believe I was hearing this from someone who is willing to put his life on the line - and has many times - for others he has never met...and likely never will.

As he looked at me with watery eyes, I reached into my wallet to retrieve a very special item...my Ride 430 Challenge coin.  This coin was presented to each person who participated in the 2013 Ride 430 Challenge, either as a rider, or as our much needed and appreciated support staff.  The challenge coin has special meaning, and a great deal of history behind it.  So before I go on with this story, I feel it is important to give you all a little history lesson about the challenge coin.

It is hard to say when and where exactly the tradition of the challenge coin began, but what is known, is that the challenge coin's roots go much further back than what we typically think of as our modern military age.  There is record of soldiers in ancient Rome being awarded an extra coin in addition to their normal pay, if they performed with exceeding valor during combat operations.  It is recorded that these 'bonus' coins were specially minted with a mark of the legion from which it came.  Due to the special minting, records indicate that many soldiers held on to these coins as a memento,  rather than spending them. 

As stories would have it, the first official challenge coin dates back to World War I, when a wealthy officer had bronze medallions struck with the flying squadron’s insignia to give to his men. Shortly after, one of the young flying aces was shot down over Germany and captured. The Germans took everything on his person except the small leather pouch he wore around his neck that happened to contain his medallion.

The pilot escaped and made his way to France. But the French believed he was a spy, and sentenced him to execution. In an effort to prove his identity, the pilot presented the medallion. A French soldier happened to recognize the insignia and the execution was delayed. The French confirmed his identity and sent him back to his unit.

It is believed that the coins used as challenge items began in Germany, following World War II.  American soldiers stationed there, took up a local tradition known as pfennig checks.  The pfennig was the lowest denomination of German coin, and if you didn't possess one when a check was called at the local bar, you were stuck buying the beers.  Over time, the check evolved from the pfennig, to a unit's medallion coin.  If you were challenged by another soldier presenting his unit's medallion coin, and you failed to present yours...then you were buying the drinks.

Tradition states that challenge coins are passed from the issuing officer to the worth recipient during a handshake.  This tradition is said to have begun when Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, visited military bases in Afghanistan during 2011, prior to his retirement.  During his base visits, it is said that he shook the hands of select soldiers...in what appeared to be an everyday handshake.  Unknown to many however, many soldiers were surprise recipients of a specially minted Secretary of Defense Challenge coin.

As we spoke I slipped the challenge coin from my wallet, placing it in the palm of my right hand.  I reached out once again, initiating another handshake.  As he gripped my hand, I squeezed tightly, drew him slightly closer to me, and once again told him how thankful I am for his service to our country.  Depositing the coin in his hand, I quickly withdrew...leaving him holding the coin.  He opened his hand, looked at the coin, then looked up at me with uncertainty in his eyes.  I explained to him that it was our team's challenge coin, and that I had received it last year during our ride.  

He responded by saying to me "I can't accept this...you earned this coin."  "No my friend...YOU earned it.  It is a gift from me to you, and you are worth the gift...absolutely worth it."  As tears flowed from his eyes he carefully tucked the coin away in his desert camo backpack, and said "Thank you for what you and your team mates are doing for my brothers...I will never forget it."

What Are You Training For?

"So what are you training for, anyway?" The tone is hard to convey in written form, but let's just say there was a touch of irritation present.

I had reached my water bottle filling station...a drinking fountain located near a community pool along one of my regular riding routes.  I knew someone was approaching me from behind, as I could hear the unmistakable click-clack of cycling cleats against the concrete sidewalk.

As I slowly turned towards the voice, I realized it was the same gentleman whom I had passed along the road, a couple miles back.  As always, I made him aware that I was passing on his left, said "good morning", gave a little wave, and pedaled on.  As is often the case, there was no response.  

Now that he had decided to engage me in conversation, my Type-A personality urged me to take control of the situation...of course it did.  I replied "Excuse, me?...I didn't quite catch what you said."  That however, wasn't entirely true.  With a touch more gruff to his tone, he repeated "I said, what are you training for?"  Let's just say I didn't care much for his tone.

The mountain biker in me was dieing to come out and play, but I figured I better hold back a little due to the fact that I was sporting my Ride 430 colors, and didn't want to tarnish our team's reputation.  After a micro-second of pause and contemplation...I replied, "Oh hey, I didn't recognize you.  You're the guy I passed back there aren't you?  That's a beautiful bike you're riding!"  

As he digested the dichotomy of my statement, he replied "You caught me by surprise back there...you must be training for something."  This time, his tone was completely different, leading me to believe that my tactics were working.  Don't get me wrong...I wasn't trying to be a jerk.  I was simply letting him know that, in fact, he was being a jerk, and I didn't really care too much for it.  

While I would have loved to have told him all about the Ride 430 Challenge, and how we raise money for injured US military heroes and their families...I chose to make a different point.  It seems like everyone is training for something these days.  Iron Man, triathlons, marathons, halves, Olympic, Xterra...the list goes on and and on.  As a health and fitness professional, I find it awesome that so many people in our society have chosen to get off the couch, and improve their lives through exercise...I really do.   As a member of The Ride 430 Challenge team, I actually am training for an event...our annual Ride 430 Challenge, which is a 4-day 400+ mile cycling event that caps off our team's annual fundraising campaign.

Like I said, I could have taken this opportunity to expose my new cycling buddy to this amazing organization, yet my response was...

"Yes, as a matter of fact I am.  I am training for life...a long, healthy life.  Have a great ride, and be safe!"

I clipped in, and pedaled off.  I looked back over my shoulder to find him just standing there, looking at me with his head cocked slightly to the side, as I rode away.  Once again I waved, and this time...he waived back.

What are YOU training for?

Suck it Up, and Quit Your Whining!

I reached towards the sound, groping around in desperation on my nightstand, trying to find whatever it was that was making that God-awful noise.  It was my phone.  Actually, it was the alarm clock on my phone, and the noise emanating from it is actually quite peaceful.  I managed to silence the alarm, fearing I had not intervened quickly enough to prevent the Tornado Warning Siren (that I was hearing in my head) from waking my lovely, peacefully sleeping wife.

It appeared I was successful, as she barely stirred.  I on the other hand, wrestled with the thought of getting out of bed at such an hour - 4:30 am - to go ride a bike, the act of which, would surely cause a great deal of pain.

You see, I am currently dealing with some spine issues, the result of an on-the-job injury that I sustained a little over two years ago.  The injury resulted in a severely torn vertebral disc, that allows the innermost part of the disc to escape from it confines, and place pressure on the nerve root that emanates from that location.  It's no fun.  I recently re-aggravated the injury while extricating a patient from within her vehicle.  Injections to manage the pain are scheduled for later this week.

While I lay in bed, thinking of the various reasons why I should stay in bed, I heard it.  It was clearly a voice...one which was loud enough to wake my wife, or so I thought.  I quickly sat up, trying to adjust my eyes to the darkness of our bedroom, searching for who it was that had just uttered those words.  

There was nobody there.

Thinking I must have fallen back asleep, and dreamed this whole thing, I lay back down and closed my eyes.  I was NOT getting up.  Just as my head hit the pillow, I heard it again...as clear as any voice I had ever heard before!

Again I sat up, and again the result was the same.  There were no other living creatures in our bedroom, other than myself, my wife, and our dog - who was curled into a cute little ball in his bed.  He obviously had not heard anything, as he...and my wife, were not stirring.

You may think I am crazy, but I know what I heard.  The voice was encouraging, yet direct.  Not loud, but commanding.  "Suck it up, and quit your whining" was what I had heard...twice.  

I am a Christian.  I believe in God.  I believe he speaks to us in different ways.  I believe he loves us...sometimes with 'tough love'.  I have never felt or heard him speak to me before, and to be quite honest, I may have been a little bitter about that...not really.  Okay, yes I was.

I feel like God spoke to me that early morning - urging me to get out of bed, and begin the training that I so desperately need, to be able to complete the 2014 Ride 430 Challenge.  I feel He was telling me that, while I am injured, I can still function, and that those who I ride for have suffered far greater injury, and tolerated far greater pain.  He was speaking of our country's fallen military heroes, who place their lives on the line every day for our freedom.

As I pedaled my bike west, the sun was beginning to peek over the horizon behind me.  My back was hurting, and my legs felt weak....but all i could think about was that voice I had heard a few minutes prior.  The voice that encouraged me to get out of bed, get on my bike, and begin logging what will ultimately be nearly 3000 miles of training, so that I can honor those men and women who have put their pain behind them, as they serve a cause much bigger than themselves.

It was a good ride.

Protein...How much is too much?

Some days I would swear we were back in the 90's...then I look in the mirror, and see that my sweet, sweet MacGyver mullet is still gone.  What does remind me of the 90's however, is that fact that we seem to be right back into the Atkins Diet age.  Low Carb-High Protein diets have made such a strong strong resurgence, that I am considering growing my hair out again.  Well, maybe not...nobody looks good in a skullet!

Quite often these days, I am either asked or told about someone who has decided to jump back on the 90's Atkins train by either eliminating or significantly reducing carbohydrate (CHO) intake, and cranking up the amount of protein they are ingesting.

I have one word for those people...AMDR.  Okay, Okay...so it's an acronym, not a word.  So sue me.

The acronym AMDR stands for Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range, and basically refers to the appropriate (acceptable) levels of nutrients that we put into our bodies daily.  We need to keep in mind that anything can reach toxic or harmful levels within our bodies...even stuff that we typically consider healthy.

Take good 'ol H2O for instance.  Water, considered by some to be the fourth macronutrient, is something we take for granted.  We know we should be consuming specific amounts of this relatively benign liquid, to prevent dehydration...but have we ever thought much about hyper-hydration?  Did you know that the consumption of too much water can kill you?  

It's a similar situation with protein.  You can ingest too much protein, and it can have harmful, untoward effects on your body...and your performance.  The performance aspect is somewhat ironic, as the majority of people who overdose - yes, I said overdose - are those looking to improve their performance.  I've been there myself at times.

I was recently reading an article in a health and fitness journal about protein, that referred to protein as a substance that has a halo effect.  A halo effect is a phenomenon that leads people to overestimate the healthfulness of a food or nutrient, based on one quality.  Food manufacturers have capitalized to the tune of multi-billion dollar revenues by creating (and often simply re-labeling) new products that align with the halo effect that protein currently has.  

Don't get me wrong here...protein is absolutely essential to maintaining homeostasis, as well overall health and longevity...but the old adage "if some is good, then more is better" truly does not apply when we are talking about daily protein intake.

Let's talk Protein 101 here...

First, what is protein? 

pro·tein

ˈprōˌtē(ə)n/

noun

noun: protein; plural noun: proteins

1.

any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, esp. as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies.

 

 

Above, is the definition of protein found in Webster's Dictionary.  Let's take it down a notch, and try to make it easier to understand.

For the purposes of this particular blog, protein can be defined as any food source or dietary supplement that is comprised of chains of amino acids.  You should know that there are complete proteins, and incomplete proteins.  Complete proteins are those that contain all of the essential amino acids, while those that are classified as incomplete, are deficient in essential amino acids.  

So what is the difference between an essential amino acid and a non-essential amino acid?  That is a great question!  

Essential Amino Acids are those that cannot be synthesized by the human body.  This means that we must consume them from food sources or dietary supplements.  There are ten essential amino acids, and most everyone who has a background in nutrition or exercise physiology, knows these as Private Tim Hall....or more accurately, PVT TIM HALL.

PVT TIM HALL is a common mnemonic that students use to remember the ten essential amino acids:

Phenylalanine

Valine

Tryptophan

Threonine

Isoleucine

Methionine

Histidine

Arginine 

Leucine

Lysine

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAA) were quite popular back in the nineties, and like many supplements, have come full circle.  What is old is new again.  Recent studies have linked BCAA with performance enhancement, especially when it comes to reducing fatigue levels.  This is due to BCAA's ability to be metabolized at the skeletal muscle level, rather than within the liver.  This means that BCAA's can stave off fatigue during training and competition, allowing you to push harder for longer durations.

Alright, let's talk about how much protein we should be getting.  Early on in this rant, I mentioned the word - sorry...the acronym AMDR (Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range).  But wait...there's another acronym out there that provides guidance for the quantity of nutrient intake - RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance).  The RDA provides quantities of food and nutrient intake, based on age and gender.

 "So" you ask, "What is the AMDR for protein?" 

The Institute of Medicine recommends an AMDR of 10-35% of total caloric consumption from protein.  This falls far short of the high protein diet fad recommendations of up to 50% total calories from protein sources.  The RDA for protein is as follows:

Recommended Dietary Allowance for Protein
	Grams of protein needed each day
Children ages 1 – 3	13
Children ages 4 – 8	19
Children ages 9 – 13	34
Girls ages 14 – 18	46
Boys ages 14 – 18	52
Women ages 19 – 70+	46
Men ages 19 – 70+	56

The next question one should ask is "What happens when I take in too much protein?"

There are a host of different outcomes of overdoing protein intake.  Some of them are as benign as gastrointestinal cramping and diarrhea.  If you are lucky, this is all that you will experience.  It is important to understand however, what happens to protein in your body.  The breakdown of protein cleaves nitrogen from the molecule.  Excess nitrogen levels in the body can create an acidic environment.  Acidic environments can be harmful to the body, and thus, the body strives to maintain nitrogen balance.  Athletes can benefit from a slight nitrogen balance due to their activity levels and need for muscle repair and synthesis.  The average person however, or the person who has adopted a high-protein diet in hopes of losing weight, may find that while they do lose weight (sometimes quite rapidly) their body fat levels do not drop in accordance to their total weight loss.

This condition is due to the fact that excess amino acid levels in the body, like any excess form of energy, can be converted and stored as adipose tissue...commonly referred to as fat.  Often times the significant weight loss comes at the expense of decreased lean muscle mass, and decreased body fluid levels.  

You see, when nitrogen levels begin to rise within the body, our amazingly designed 'machines' kick into protection-mode, forming greater amounts of urea, and stimulating an increase in urine production/output.  This is a mechanism used to rid the body of excess proteins and the byproducts of excess protein intake.

This may seem relatively unimportant, but it is important to understand that body fluid loss as little as 1% of total body weight, can have a profound impact on performance.  If you are an athlete, like me, the last thing you want to do is begin a training session or a competition...already dehydrated.

If you are not an athlete, and you are simply someone who has adopted the high-protein lifestyle to lose weight, it is also important for you to exercise.  You should strive to be well hydrated prior, during, and after any exercise session.

"So what else can happen if I take in too much protein?" 

For you women out there...excess protein intake can play a role in leeching bone-strengthening calcium from the body.  This can increase one's risk of developing osteoporosis later in life, which can lead to frequent bone fractures, and a significant reduction in quality of life.

Protein is good, but like anything else...too much, can be bad.  I encourage you to do additional research on your own, and make an informed decision about how you should eat...not a fad-based decision.  Fad diets and eating plans are rarely sustainable.  If you are an aging athlete like me, sustainability is paramount!

Here a just a few of the references for the information above, that you might find useful in your search for the truth.

AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics). 2013a. Eat right for endurance.  www.eatright.org?Publication/content.aspx?id=7085;accessed June 1, 2013.

Bonjour, J.P. 2011.  Protein intake and bone health.  International Journal of Vitamin and Nutrition Research.  81 (2-3), 134-42

Tipton, K.D. 2011.  Symposium 2: Exercise and protein nutrition: Efficacy and consequences of very-high-protein diets for athletes and exercisers.  Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 70 (2), 205-14

Westerterp-Plantenga, M.S., Lemmens, S.G., & Westerterp, K.R. 2012.  Dietary protein: its roe in satiety, energetics, weight loss and health.  British Journal of Nutrition, 108, s105-s102.

 

Who's Milo Anyway?

Milo of Croton...or, more accurately, Milon of Kroton, was a 6th century wrestler known for his amazing feats of strength and power.  Milo however, is best known for his strength training regimen, which began while he was still a small boy.

It is said that when Milo was about eight years old, he was given a young calf to raise as his own.  Legend has it that Milo's father would ask him each morning, "How Big is your calf today Milo?"  In response, Milo would run out to the field, throw the calf over his shoulders, and run back to the house to show his father...rather than simply telling him how big the calf was getting.

This process went on daily, as the calf matured and grew to normal size and weight.  It is said Milo gained his amazing strength and power from this progressive form of strength training.  You see, the calf was growing little by little, day in and day out.  Each day Milo picked up the calf, the calf weighed a little more than the day before...but not enough to notice the difference.

By the time the calf had reached maturity...and become a bull, Milo's body had adapted and become incredibly strong.  

Milo's incredible strength and crushing power, made him a worthy opponent in both battle and athletic events.  Milo was reported to have been a six-time Olympic victor in the sport of wrestling, winning five titles between 536 and 520 BC.  Milo was also credited with leading his fellow citizens to military triumph over neighboring Sybaris, in 510 BC.

Milo's life, reportedly, came to an end while he was attempting to tear a tree apart with his bare hands.  Legend states that Milo had been cutting a tree with an axe and wedge.  When the wedge became lodged deep within the trunk of the tree, Milo used his bare hands to spread the tree trunk apart, allowing him to remove the wedge.  While reaching in to grab the wedge, the two halves of the tree sprung back, trapping Milo's hand deep within it.  While Milo was desperately trying to free himself, he was attacked by wolves, and killed.  Some accounts of the story however, state that Milo was attacked by a lion while trying to free himself. 

 A number of paintings and sculptures have been completed, depicting Milo's legendary death...with both wolves and lions.

 

 Alright, I know....if you've made it this far, you might be thinking "Why the history lesson?"  "What does this have to do with aging athletes?"

Here's the deal...the strength training regimen that Milo used to gain such extraordinary strength and power, is actually the first account of the application of the SAID principle.

The what?

The SAID Principle is a well-known principle, or law, within the realm of exercise physiology.  SAID is an acronym that stands for Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands.  This law, or principle, refers to the body's amazing ability to adapt to various stresses placed upon it.  Milo's application of the SAID Principle illustrates a progressive increase over time, in both strength and power.  

Here's how it worked...

Each day the calf increased in size.  These increases were relatively small, and at times unnoticeable.  All the while, Milo's body...his muscles, nervous system, etc. were making their own minuscule adjustments to meet the new demands encountered while lifting the calf...and later, the bull.

It's all about progression folks.  

While the truth behind Milo's story may be more legendary than factual, the fact does remain, that it is progression that provides the most benefit for us when it comes to improving strength and fitness levels.  The SAID principle is at the very core of every well-planned training program for one reason - IT WORKS.

I have decided to experiment with Milo's SAID Principle...on myself.  You've all seen those movies where the scientist performs some crazy experiment on himself, right?  Well, this wont be anywhere near as crazy, or as exciting.  Imagine that.

I have decided to apply the MILO Principle (a little play on words there) to the pushup.  Yep, that's right...the simple, basic pushup.  Here's what I have in mind....

Actually, I am nearly one month into it right now, but I have been meaning to share it with you all for some time now.  I guess I've just been to busy performing pushups! 

On day one of my plan I performed as many pushups as I could...that's right, to failure.  When I was young, I could bang out about 70 pushups before failing.  Now, at age 49...40 was my max.  So I decided I would start at 50% of my max.  After allowing my body to fully recover (72 hours was sufficient), I began my program.  I planned to begin with 20 pushups (50% of my max), adding one pushup each day.  My thought (more accurately, my hypothesis), was that by adding just one pushup each day, my body would barely sense the increased change, and slowly adjust to each day's imposed demand.

I will be honest with you...I have missed a day or two here and there, but for the most part I have been diligent in my efforts to complete my daily pushup challenge.  I would like to see just how many pushups I will be able to do after completing my challenge for 6-months.  

If my math is correct (and my body continues to adapt at the same rate Milo's did), by the end of 6-months I should be able to 201 continuous pushups!  

Now I realize that the story of Milo is just that...a story.  I also realize however, that the SAID Principle is real.  I am simply having a little fun putting it to the test, and seeing just how much my body is capable of adapting to the ever increasing, imposed demand.

Will you join me?  I challenge you!

Let's have some fun together.

All Sugar is NOT Created Equal...well, sort of.

So you think you know a lot about sugar huh?  You think that ALL sugars are exactly the same, right?  Well, guess what?  YOU ARE RIGHT...sort of.

So many things in life are confusing.  Wouldn't you agree?

Two of the most confusing topics in our world are exercise and diet.  No, I'm not talking about what most people think of the word diet...which by the way, is usually the verb 'version' of the word, rather than the noun 'version'.  

Yep, that's right people, I've actually combined nutrition and grammar...something I never envisioned doing - ever.

The noun diet, refers to "the kinds of food that a person, animal, or community habitually eats."  Unfortunately though, it can also refer to "a special course of food to which one restricts oneself, either to lose weight or for medical reasons." The verb usually refers to the second noun definition...food restriction.

This is where I tend to have most of my issues with our societal dieting debacle.  Yes I said debacle.  "Why" you ask?  

I'll answer that with one word...sustainability.  You see, most 'diets' that people employ (whether by choice or by prescription) are typically un-sustainable, and often result in nutrient deficiency and starvation...to a degree.  They also have a tendency to result in binge eating, which can actually cause the dieter to gain back all the weight they lost...and more.  

Don't believe me?  A quick search of the literature will result in quite a large amount of evidence supporting the claim.  You see, highly restrictive and cessation-based diets often create eventual cravings for the items under high restriction, or those that the dieter has been forced to cease intake of.  Another important factor to take into consideration is the speed at which our basal metabolism adjusts to a sharp decrease in caloric intake.  When we severely limit (typically considered to be greater than 500kcal per day reduction) our caloric intake, our metabolic 'function' is reduced...basically, we are telling our body that it doesn't have to work as hard, because we are not 'stoking the fire' as much.  Our bodies quickly adapt to the new energy intake level.  A good diet takes this into account, and progressively decreases daily caloric intake to slowly and progressively 'reset' our metabolism.  Often times however, if a sound progression is not followed (drastic caloric reduction or cessation of particular food items) the body begins to crave what has been taken away, thus causing us to binge and take in more calories...often up to 5% greater than we were taking in prior to beginning our diet. 

Now think about it...these excess calories are all being consumed and thrown into the 'metabolic factory' when it is not operating at the same level as before.  This means that there are many excess calories that will not be metabolized for immediate energy...they will be stored as adipose tissue (fat) as a protective response, in case you decide to 'starve' your body again.

This doesn't happen all the time, but the research is out there...the numbers are not in our favor.

So what does this have to do with sugar?

People are confused about sugar similar to the way they are confused about 'diets' in general.  So let's take a look at some evidence-based information about sugar.  You might be surprised by what you hear...well, by what you read.

I've been asked.  I've been told.  I've witnessed individuals with no formal education in nutrition, spewing untruths about sugar to others whom may or may not have wanted their 'opinion'.  I have also witnessed others who have done their fare share of research on the subject...interpret it wrong.

So here's my opinion.  Yes...I said opinion.  If you don't want to hear my opinion, then simply exit out of this page...really, I wont be offended.  My opinion however, is based on science...the science of chemistry.  Yes, it's the same chemistry that has been used for eons, so if that means (to you) that it is old or outdated information...well, I really have nothing to say except that you might want to enroll in a chemistry class at your local college.

Sugar is sugar.  No doubt about it.  So those of you who have told me...told others...modified your diet to rid your life of sugar...guess what?  In part, you are correct.  Speaking from the chemistry perspective, sugar is sugar.  So the argument usually goes something like this...

Person #1:  "I've given up sugar in my diet, I hear it is horrible for you." 

Person #2:  "Yeah, I haven't eaten sugar for quite some time now."

Person #1:   "That's not true...I saw you eat an apple yesterday with your lunch!"

Person #2:   "Well yes...but that's natural sugar, and natural sugars (gets cut off by expert...I mean #1)

Expert...Person #1:  "Haven't you heard...your body doesn't know the difference between where the sugar came from...it just knows that you have eaten sugar...and that it's bad for you."

INSERT SOUND OF SCRATCHING RECORD HERE!!!

Unfortunately, this is the case for many people who are looking to limit or rid their diets of sugar.  If this line of thinking was really true, then what follows would be true as well.  

                                                                       IS EQUAL TO

Do you REALLY believe that?  I know there are many who do.  It's the argument of REFINED SUGARS vs NATURAL SUGARS.  

So...is the sugar in the fruit the same as the sugar in the Skittles?  Well actually, the answer is YES.

A hush falls over the room.

Chemically speaking sugar is sugar...remember?  OK, I guess we need to break down what sugar really is...that knowledge will certainly help you figure out which camp you are in...and possibly, which camp you want to join.

Whether it is in a piece of fruit, your pastry or your candy bar (or in this case your COSTCO sized bag of Skittles) sugar is made up of two components...fructose and glucose.  Some fruits...depending on the variety are made up of sucrose.  The chemical structure of sucrose is C12 H22 O11, and found naturally in sugarcane, sugar beets, and sorghum.  

Here's what many sugar haters fail to understand, or at least recognize.  Refined sugars, such as table sugar, brown sugar, etc. have undergone a process, hence the term refined, that has stripped the sugar 'host' of its nutrients and vitamins.  Refined sugar is still sugar...it is made up of a 50-50 ratio of glucose and fructose.  Most fruit, with the exception of apples, pears, and cranberries, are roughly 40-55% fructose.  The main difference between a refined product like table sugar is that it has zero nutritional value.

So...is one type of sugar better for you than the other?  Nope...not really.

Right now my sugar haters are relishing in the fact that they are the same...and saying "See, I told you so!"  

Hang tight haters...this lesson is not over just yet.

While neither type of sugar is really better or worse than the other, the body does process them differently.  Yep.  So...semantically speaking...they are not really the same.

Research has shown fructose to break down in the liver, thereby not creating an insulin response from the pancreas.  Glucose on the other hand, begins to break down within the stomach, and requires insulin to be metabolized completely.  So you see, there are some differences from sugar to sugar, and how our body reacts to, and metabolizes the sweet goodness...I mean evil...never mind.

So back to the pictures above...

The sugar composition between the two is essentially the same, right?  Yes.  That doesn't mean that they are interchangeable however.  Nor does it mean that eliminating sugar from your diet is healthy...if that process includes the removal of fruit.

This is strictly my opinion, but I would bet that no person EVER became a diabetic because he or she ate too much fruit.  How can I make that assumption?  Because of the nutrient density of fruit compared to the lack-thereof in refined sugar products....like those tasty little Skittles shown above.

In addition to vitamins and nutrients, fruit offers a degree of hydration (unless the fruit is of the dehydrated variety) due to it's water content.  Skittles?  Not so much.  Fruit also offers a host of antioxidants that help combat the onslaught of free radicals that we face each and every day of our lives.  Fruit also contains less sugar by volume than that of refined sugar products like candy, cake, and pies.  For example, one-half cup of fresh strawberries contains roughly 3.5 grams of sugar.  Strawberry ice cream, on the other hand, contains roughly fifteen grams of sugar.  

Fruits also contain fiber...oh yeah, that's right.  Fiber is healthy huh?  Fiber provides the feeling of satiety or fullness which helps to regulate just how much good we consume.  Yep, God was thinking when he created whole foods (WE created processed foods).  He put all kinds of good stuff into them that actually perform so many different functions...yep, even evil fruit!

Let's talk a little more about fiber for a moment.  Not only does fiber work to naturally limit the amount of food we eat, it also slows the uptake of glucose...helping to prevent the insulin spike caused by a large sugar bolus entering our bloodstream.  So...one could infer that fiber helps to reduce the likelihood of developing Type 2 Diabetes, by preventing the pancreas from being overworked, and eventually shutting down.  

Now let's talk about something that most people have never heard of.  The restorative properties of fruits and veggies.  That's right...restorative.

Much research has been conducted regarding the role of the anti-oxidant and phyto-nutrient rich colors and pigments contained in vegetables...and fruits.  A great deal of this research has been done by a close friend and colleague of mine - Patti Milligan M.S. R.D. CNS.  Patti serves as the Director of Nutrition for TIGNUM Institute for Sustainable High Performance

According to Patti, research in the last 10 years has revealed that the most potent and active constituents in foods are not the vitamins/minerals but are, in fact, the compounds that give food their color.  So truly "eating the colors of the rainbow" offers the body a host of phyto-nutrients that are biologically active and can regenerate, restore and offer support to optimal organ function.

So you see, if you remove fruits from your diet because you are afraid of the sugar content, you are losing out on a lot of healthy benefits.  My recommendation, and the recommendation of experts in the field of nutrition...minimize the amount of refined sugars in your diet, and focus on high fiber, nutrient dense, anti-oxidant and phyto-nutrient rich whole foods...including fruit!

Until next time...

Eat your fruits!

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I last blogged...September 30, 2013 to be exact.  Since then, many things have taken place including completing the Ride 430 Challenge, my amazing wife Donna's 50th birthday, raising money for the MARSOC Foundation by participating in a 12-hour endurance mountain bike, race, Christmas, and the New Year.

I have been meaning to sit down and begin blogging again, but I just haven't had the desire to do so.  I liken it to training...a little break now and then is certainly warranted, and extremely healthy. 

Apparently, today was the day that I was meant to return to the world of carpal tunnel syndrome...I mean typing.  As I was surfing through the multitude of posts on my Facebook page, I stumbled upon a link to a recent study involving one of my greatest passions...human movement and performance.

If you have been following my blog(s) for any amount of time, you are most likely familiar with my posts on human movement dysfunction, often due to muscular imbalances.  Many of which are due to strength differentials between agonist and antagonist muscles and muscle groups.

In our day and age of technical advances, computer posture is extremely common.  Computer posture can be defined as one which involves increased curvature of the thoracic spine, forward rounding (protraction) of the shoulders, increased lordotic curve of the lumbar spine due to tightness in the hip flexors, and shortening of the hip flexors resulting in an anterior tilting of the pelvis.

All of the above issues are the result of, or result in muscular imbalances...both in strength, and length.  The picture below is a great example of computer posture.

The study I came across this morning, (http://www.jospt.org/doi/full/10.2519/jospt.2013.4116#.UtbVbfaKduc) addressed one of the most common issues with computer posture...LPHC distortion patterns.  The acronym LPHC refers to the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip-Complex, which is controlled by a number of muscles...including the gluteals (gluteus minimus and gluteus maximus). 

The most common dysfunction found in the LPHC is commonly referred to as Lower Crossed Syndrome (LCS).  LCS is the result of muscular imbalances between muscles of the anterior hip and muscles of the posterior hip.  Anteriorly, the hip flexors (psoas) adapt to the the shortened length resulting from long durations of sitting...a process known as Adaptive Shortening.  Opposite the hip flexors are the hip extensors...the gluteals.  Ideally, a harmonious balance exists between the flexors and extensors, placing the pelvis in a neutral position...just like God intended.  Life however, has a tendency to get in the way of many a harmonious existences.

When the hip flexors adapt to their shortened position, the gluteals (although more powerful) elect to give up the fight for control over the pelvis, via a process known as reciprocal inhibition.  In this case however, we would consider it to be altered reciprocal inhibition....resulting in a postural deviation, which ultimately results in a movement and/or strength imbalance.  If you are a weekend warrior who participates in some type of sporting event, this could limit your performance and increase your risk of an acute injury.

"So what was the study all about?" you ask.  Before I get to that I need to bring you up to speed on one more issue.  Tight IT Bands.  The IT (illio-tibial) Band is a thick piece of fascia, running downward from the lateral hip to just below the lateral aspect of the knee.  It is numerous functions including stabilization and proper positioning of the knee joint.

The IT Band originates from a relatively small muscle, the Tensor Fascia Latae (TFL) that assists (in part) with hip flexion, so it can be considered part of the hip flexor muscle group.  As a member of this muscle group, the TFL is subject to adaptive shortening just like its 'cousin' the psoas.  When the TFL contracts or shortens, it pulls tension (hence the name tensor) on the IT Band.  Too much tension, or prolonged tension across the IT Band can cause mal-alignment of the knee joint as well as discomfort across the lateral knee.  The discomfort is due to increased friction of the fascia rubbing across the lateral condyle of the tibia.

Whew!  Ok let's move on.

Re-engagement of the gluteal muscles is paramount in the process of returning the hip to a normal (neutral) position.  Other corrective strategies include stretching the overactive, shortened hip flexors back to their normal resting length, but this post will simply focus on the strengthening and re-engagement of the gluteals.

Now on to the study!

The researchers sought to find the best corrective exercises for strengthening the gluteals, while minimally stimulating the already overactive TFL muscle.  Many hip dominant exercises actually recruit the TFl due to its integrated function of hip extension deceleration.

I was somewhat excited to find that the strategies I have been using on my athletes are correct, and elicit minimal activity of the TFL. 

"So what are those exercises?" you ask.

The results of the study reveal the various exercises, but my favorites are those performed with mini-bands.  The pictures below illustrate some of the corrective-based exercises I use to strengthen the hips and correct LPHC dysfunction.

The first picture demonstrates a Glute-Bridge with minibands at the knees.  When performing this exercise, do not allow the band to pull your knees inward.  Keep the knees aligned with your toes throughout the exercise.  The minibands provide stimulation of the gluteus-medius, while the bridge (hip extension) provides stimulation of the gluteus-maximus.

The next exercise also combines targeting of both gluteus maximus and medius, while promoting lateral stabilization of the body.  This exercise is often referred to as a Mini-Band Lateral Walk.  While performing this exercise, make sure to maintain perfect posture (no bending at the hips or knees).

There are a few more exercises that effectively target the gluteals, while providing minimal activation of the TFL muscle, but these are two of my favorites.  If you are looking to purchase mini-bands on line, here are a couple resources where you can find them.

http://www.performbetter.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product1_10151_10752_1003893_-1

http://www.power-systems.com/p-2705-versa-loops.aspx

Do yourself a favor and pick up some of these inexpensive bands and get busy getting your body working the way it was designed to!

Here's to a happy and healthy 2014!

Complete reference: Selkowitz, D. M., Beneck, G. J., & Powers, C. M. (2013). Which exercises target the gluteal muscles while minimizing activation of the tensor fascia lata? Electromyographic assessment using fine-wire electrodes. Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 43(2):54-64. - See more at: http://blog.nasm.org/fitness/which-exercises-target-the-gluteal-muscles-while-minimizing-activation-of-the-tensor-fascia-lata/#sthash.nwC9o81T.dpuf

omplete reference: Selkowitz, D. M., Beneck, G. J., & Powers, C. M. (2013). Which exercises target the gluteal muscles while minimizing activation of the tensor fascia lata? Electromyographic assessment using fine-wire electrodes. Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 43(2):54-64. - See more at: http://blog.nasm.org/fitness/which-exercises-target-the-gluteal-muscles-while-minimizing-activation-of-the-tensor-fascia-lata/#sthash.nwC9o81T.dpuf