Training in Utah is a little like, "herdin' cats."

The state of our nation's health goes like this:

• 66% of Americans are overweight enough that it will affect their quality of life negatively. 
• 33% of Americans are Obese.  This means that one out of every 3 people you see are likely to die early from complications related to this condition. 
• The number ONE killer of Americans is heart disease.  It's lifestyle related and mostly preventable.  
• The Top 5 killers of Americans are lifestyle related and mostly preventable. 
• Americans spend more money on health care then the top 10 healthiest countries on earth - combined. 
• Yet, Americans are 33rd healthiest among developed 1st world countries. 

I could go on and on, but you've heard it all. 

Utah has decided to snuff out the experience and expertise all expert personal trainers who reside within its boarders.  Utah lawmakers (I will find out exactly who and post it here) have decided that the most pressing issue related to health and fitness is the  "rogue trainer" who is bent on increasing health and quality of life of Utah citizens in trade for compensation.

These lawmakers have legislated that anyone within state boundaries who trades fitness related services (personal training) for compensatory consideration (money) will need to become "bonded" to do so legally.  This bond is extremely expensive and would render most personal trainers helpless to comply.  This is especially true of personal trainers who are new to the business, and expert part-time trainers who train out of their houses at local neighborhood facilities.  Many of these part-time trainers are full-time moms simply trying to contribute to household income.  Something needed more now, than at almost any other time in history.   

Forcing personal trainers to obtain a surety bond is likely to drive these motivated individuals from the industry.  This is an obvious losing situation for most of the parties involved.  I say, "most" parties, because there is ONE winner.  Big business.  See, now big biz can swoop in with it's deep pockets and purchase these surety bonds in exchange for the lions share of personal training profits.  Is it any wonder where this legislation came from? 

This will (read, "has") created a situation where the role of "expert personal trainer" has been relegated to an entry level position in the job market.  Not, at all, the type of compensation or upward mobility that a person could create a career around.  Nor is it the type of compensation that will keep satisfied the pioneers and experts who are already embedded and contributing, much needed, advances to health and fitness techniques.  Hell, at this point anyone considering getting into personal training, or even staying in this profession would have better luck raising a family on the promise of upward mobility at the local fast food chain.  Who will be the personal trainers of the future?  Part-time, unmotivated, profession-transients who will work for $7.00 per session while knowingly charging  the client $65.00 for that same session.  See potential for conflict and job dissatisfaction there? 

My prediction:  this legislation will kill the expert professional personal trainer in Utah and other places that follow suit.  This will have far reaching ramifications.  These ramifications will include; decreased public health; decreased tax revenues collected by the state from personal trainers and the businesses they support; increases in health related taxes to support public health decline, the death of university health sciences programs, the continued rise of obesity and disease of our children, just to name a few. 

For me, it is time to go to war over this issue.  It is a law that makes no sense.  It benefits no one.  Not even those fat cat businessman who are buying up all the rights to personal training markets throughout Utah.  In the long run, even they will fail because of this legislation.  Why?  Ask yourself, would you entrust your health and the health of your loved ones while paying $65 for an hour to someone who has the motivation and educational background of the average fast food worker? 

My experience with the state on this issue is...let's just say - FRUSTRATING.  I'll keep you posted on my experiences here on this blog.  I am expecting an experience which is best outlined by the video below.  Enjoy!

25 reps for time: 3-2-1 GO!

I know I posted that the knock-off of Susan Powter's exercise vids from the early 90's was my all-time favorite exercise vid, but this is even better.  It's better because it is real.  Is this Greer's "Shapely Secret?"  No wonder she made folks go behind the blind in those malls.  I wondered just what in the hell they were doing in there...

Best Workout Ever - Watch more free videos

 

the failure empire: Bob Greene rakes it in while Oprah fails

I read the above article by Byron Richards, Health Freedom Editor on one of my favorite health and fitness watchdog sites NaturalNews.com the other day. 

I have long thought the Oprah weight loss/ weight gain saga was somewhat staged.  It is just too coincidental.  Has anyone ever noticed that every time Oprah gains weight, Bob Greene always has a new program/cookbook promotion waiting in the wings to capitalize on her failures?  It is not lost on me that Oprah "owns" Bob Greene enterprises.  With this in mind, it is not hard for me to imagine a world where Bob Greene is simply a wheel on the Oprah Winfrey money wagon.  It makes even more sense that her weight gain/loss could be as much driven by profits as health.   

I have never been a big fan of Bob Greene's programs.  Look, you simply don't take a middle aged 250 lb. untrained female and have her run a marathon - for weight loss.  Marathons are for competition or accomplishment.   They are not for weight loss.  There are better ways to accomplish weight loss, not to mention healthier ways.  But, look...Oprah (therefore Bob) has done a lot to help improve the health of her fans - that makes one HELL of a lot of people.  You have to hand that to him whether you think he is a puppet or not. 

Below is an article that will make you re-think Oprah's diet woes.  I don't agree with all of Mr. Richards' statements, so I only posted some of the article, the parts I "mostly" agree with.  If you'd like to read the full article, click here. 

The Failure Empire: Bob Greene Rakes It In While Oprah Fails (opinion)

Wednesday, January 28, 2009 by: Byron Richards, Health Freedom Editor

(NaturalNews) The scene is comic: Bob Greene sitting next to Oprah on her TV show, kicking off the New Year, as Oprah tries to explain to her viewing audience why she gained forty pounds – again. Not once did she turn to Greene and say, "Bob, I guess your program is just a bit too hard to follow, something must be wrong with it."

This spectacle first caught my attention in December when Oprah made her weight-gain story national news by featuring her balloon ride to 200 pounds in the January issue of her Oprah magazine. As she talked about her weight problems on her TV show it became obvious that her story coincided with a sales pitch for Bob Greene's new cookbook, which goes along with his Oprah-sponsored diet book. I see from some of the news stories that I am not the only one who thinks this is bizarre. However, it is an interesting case study for future university-level marketing classes in how to market utter failure.

As one of the top clinical nutritionists in the country, the oddities of this story began to perk my interest. After reading through the gibberish in the January Oprah magazine and sitting through my first ever entire Oprah TV show, I went out and bought a copy of Greene's diet book. Within moments of reading the book it was easy to visualize my working title for this article, "Why Bob Greene's Diet Fails Oprah."

Upon further research a new question entered my mind, "Is there anything Bob Greene won't do for money?"

I thought it was peculiar that Oprah was introducing Bob Greene as her long time friend and trainer, while allowing him to portray himself as a nutrition expert. Why wasn't she introducing him in a factual way: "I just want to let all of you know that Bob Greene is part of Oprah, Inc. He doubles as my property manager for my 102 acre estate in Hawaii and together we have purchased a total of six other oceanfront properties nearby (one for a Bob Greene house, one for an Oprah guest house, and four to be left vacant). We have made over ten million dollars on the diet book that has resulted in my dieting failure. And Bob has made millions more promoting McDonalds and other junk food companies on my coattails. In fact, I've personally made Bob Greene a multi-millionaire many times over and I just can't tell you how thrilled I am that I've gained back forty pounds while being an expert in, advocate of, and profiting from his advice."

The New York Times interviewed him just before he and Oprah did their joint promotional webcast on January 12, a webcast that somehow managed an extremely accurate title: "Falling Off the Wagon With Bob Greene." He told the paper, "It doesn't bother me in the least, everyone knows she follows my plan, but when she doesn't, she gains weight, and when she does, it's the only thing that works for her. It's a very positive thing for me and book sales aren't suffering."

Bob, that is not exactly what everyone knows. Oprah's two big weight-loss experiences came on a liquid diet and by starving herself, not from following your diet and reaching an ideal weight. In fact Bob, following your diet is next to impossible – which is why Oprah so easily goes off it – and this simple fact is directly your responsibility and the fault of your diet program. Furthermore, Oprah's following your program has resulted in her having a significant increased risk for breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and early death – nice friend.

Richard Simmons is my personal fitness HERO - well, OK. At least, he is in the top 3.

I have been trying for 2 years to get RS on my radio show.  So far, I haven't even been able to get to the person who says, "NO."  I'm beginning to think that his people don't think that I am a big deal. 

If you haven't seen this yet - you must.  I first saw it 4 hours ago and my cheeks still hurt. 

 

It’s finally finished!

It has been a month in the making, but the bulk of the build out on the FZNHQ "cave" is finished.  I can't believe it.  Wow, we did a lot of work in there. 

The new athletes are starting to pour in.  It is exciting.  My dancers have already started classes and many of my old friends are back. 

YOU gotta get in here.  We have been laying the smack down on some workouts.  If you are ever in SLC, please look us up. 

We have two more truck loads of equipment to be delivered, but for the most part we are up and running.  I'll have to get someone who is WAY more artistic than I to decorate.  The most I can do to make things look good is "hose it off."  Anything more than that, and you are out of luck, with me. 

Here are some pix:

black floors, gray painted walls and trim around the bottom!

Bill, John, Ben and Clyde - you'll do the work on these mounts!

Not quite enough weight for you, but it's a start.

Yes, that little green bucket is exactly what you think it is for.  But, I'd prefer you meet pukie in the parking lot. 

Hope to see you real soon!

It was a good run - got sore!

I ran my mile yesterday in 7 min.  It was raining like all get-out, but I did it.  It was fun.  Here is the thing, earlier this summer I was asked to try out a new pair of shoes.  They are Spring Boost "b" trains.  Interesting concept for a shoe line.  Click the above link to check them out.  I'm in the process of writing a full review on them. 

Here is what their website has to say about the concept of these shoes:

SpringBoost has introduced a new concept in athletic footwear technology that enhances performance, improves sports training and facilitates health and wellness by improving posture and body alignment.

Biomechanical experts have uncovered the effects of the foot inclination on performance, training and health and have demonstrated positive results when the foot is placed in dorsiflexion position.

Studies have shown that the condition of dorsiflexion provides for an increase of energy storage, increased muscle fiber recruitment and an optimal muscle fiber pennation angle leading to improved power during calf muscles exercises, running and jumping activities.

Other studies that analyzed the effects of foot inclination on health, showed that the dorsiflexion can enhance the posture and the venous return.

Dorsiflexion is not a new concept. It has been used for years by medical specialists (physiotherapists, diabetic and incontinence specialists) and by athletes.

In the medical field, dorsiflexion has been used:

• During rehabilitation to stretch and stimulate the calf muscles. The stretching and the greater amplitude from dorsiflexion are able to increase the effect of work.
  
  

• In foot ulcer treatment for stimulating the skeletal muscle pump and thereby increasing venous return.
  
  
• With combined pelvic floor muscle training for stress urinary incontinence. Standing in a dorsiflexion position facilitates pelvic floor muscle activity which has correlated with strengthened abdominal activity.

In the field of training and performance, dorsiflexion is used to stretch and stimulate the calf muscles and to increase the performance on height jump and linear speed.

I'm not sure where I stand as far as "buy-in" on their concept.  What I can tell you is, my calves are pretty sore.  On a scale of 1-10 they are about a 7-8.  They are definitely different.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

Go for a run tomorrow

How about a mile run tomorrow?  You can jog it if you want to.  You can even walk part of it, but I want most of it to be a run.  It's just one mile.  When was the last time you ran a mile?  Let's do it.  I'm going to do it with you and post my results right here on this blog. 

I know what you are thinking.  You are thinking, "I HATE running."  Well, me too, but running is good for you if it isn't done to excess, and one simple mile isn't "excess" by any stretch of the imagination.  It happens to be one of those things that humans do in real life.  We run occasionally.  In other words, it is an entirely functional activity.  The more able we are to run for short bursts, the more able we are to do other things in life.  And, "yes" it helps improve health and prevent disease. 

I'm not asking you to run a marathon.  Just a mile.  And give this your heart.  Really go for it.  You know your limits.  Don't exceed them.  You may find that you will have exceeded your expectations.

time your run and let me know how it goes in the comments of this post.   

blister buster

Below is my nephew Noah.  He is a stud.  Recently, his mom and dad (my brother) started sending him to the new FZNHQ to workout with me.  In truth, no one "sends" Noah anywhere.  Somehow this kid loves to workout.  He WON'T miss a day, which I think is funny.  Exercising would have been the furthest thing from my mind when I was 12 years old.  The other day, I had to miss one of our workouts and he BLEW my phone UP wondering where I was.  His parents don't know this, but he called no less than 8x in a two hour span.  I love the kid!

He's tenacious.  Two nights ago when I asked him to do 45 burp-ups - think burpees jumping into a pull-up - he didn't blink.  In fact he plowed them, right up to rep #41 and then he quit, which isn't at all like him.  I yelled at him, "Noah, let's go!  No slowing down!  Get back after it!"  And he did, for two more reps.  Then he quit again.  At this point, I knew something must be wrong.  I have never seen him quit, especially with only 2 reps to go!  "You going to do those last two reps?" I taunted.
"I'll try."  He said very determined. 
"Whats wrong?"  I asked.
"Nothing."  He said it like he meant it, until he added, "It kind of hurts." 
"Why?"  I said half-mockingly.
"Oh, no reason.  It's just these 4 blisters."  He showed his hands. 

The one in the middle was huge.  You can't really see the others very well.  Trust me, they are there.  He said he got it on rep 21 or 22, but he didn't stop until two of them broke!  Kid is a stud!  Here are some pics:

 
OUCH!  DAMN! You can barely see the one on his thumb. Look to the outside. 

  
Better view of the big one

I don't know another 12 year old that could do 41 pull-ups, let alone do them with this.  Fun kid to train. 

congressman picked last for committee

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Rep. David Bonior (D-MI), an awkward, unpopular legislator from Michigan's 10th District, was picked last for the new House Committee On Youth Fitness Monday. "I didn't even want to be on that dumb committee," said Bonior after being made the final pick by Rep. J.C. Watts Jr. (R-OK), the committee's athletic, well-liked chairman. "I'm only doing it because I have to be on one more committee to get full credit for this term." Bonior reportedly stood at the front of the House floor during the selection process, trying to be noticed.

Equipment for the “cave” will be here on Thursday

Below is a comprehensive photo of all the equipment that is due in on Thursday the 22nd.  I'm pretty pumped about it. 

In all seriousness, If anyone has a line on one of those fat jiggling machines, drop me a line.  I will totally buy it from you.  It deserves recognition in my exercise equipment hall of shame! 

I hear they work (if they don't kill you).  Yes, they have killed folks.  In fact, that's why you can't buy them anymore.  I want to buy one anyway!