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Showing posts from February, 2019

Hip Mobility - Unleash Your Power

Taking care of the tightness in abductors, adductors, and hip flexors so that you can fully realize the potential of a fully mobile hip.   Our previous video dealt with Ankle Mobility .  This time, I want to review your hip flexibility , specifically abductors and adductors, and hip flexors, predominantly how tightness in those areas hinders your mobility.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2XrNpZm via IFTTT

A Cautionary Tale of Modern Youth Development

There are real costs of following the herd. Brad Johnson is your typical American teen . He grew up playing baseball, watching MTV, and taking two Adderall pills each day for his ADHD .   Brad first showed signs of hyperactivity in kindergarten, where he often lost his daily recess because he, “couldn’t keep his hands and feet to himself.” During story time, he’d be flopping his legs from side to side, or playing with the braids of the girls sitting in front of him.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2TfjW5N via IFTTT

A Cautionary Tale of Modern Youth Development

There are real costs of following the herd. Brad Johnson is your typical American teen . He grew up playing baseball, watching MTV, and taking two Adderall pills each day for his ADHD.   Brad first showed signs of hyperactivity in kindergarten, where he often lost his daily recess because he, “couldn’t keep his hands and feet to himself.” During story time, he’d be flopping his legs from side to side, or playing with the braids of the girls sitting in front of him.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2ID5HUd via IFTTT

Use Fitness to Counteract Automation

The age of automation threatens to make more humans useless. In November of 2017 my wife, Neely, and I nervously attended orientation at an adoption agency. We filed into our seats and attentively followed the day’s program, brimming with all the obvious questions:   “How long does it take?” “How are we matched?” “How often do matches fail? “What does the birth-mother relationship usually look like? “How do normal people pay for this?” “Alright, already. Where are you keeping the babies?”   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2NrzHRN via IFTTT

Put Yourself First for All the Right Reasons

It is the age of choice and opportunity. The sky is the limit and often that creates paralysis by analysis. She doesn’t like your dinner so you make her mac and cheese . He doesn’t like crusts, so you cut them off. Your nine and 12-year-old won’t wake themselves up, pack a lunch, or make breakfast , so these responsibilities fall to you.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2SsWSw1 via IFTTT

Use Fitness to Counteract Automation

The age of automation threatens to make more humans useless. In November of 2017 my wife, Neely, and I nervously attended orientation at an adoption agency. We filed into our seats and attentively followed the day’s program, brimming with all the obvious questions:   “How long does it take?” “How are we matched?” “How often do matches fail? read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2IC9e4Y via IFTTT

Put Yourself First for All the Right Reasons

It is the age of choice and opportunity. The sky is the limit and often that creates paralysis by analysis. She doesn’t like your dinner so you make her mac and cheese . He doesn’t like crusts, so you cut them off. Your nine and 12-year-old won’t wake themselves up, pack a lunch, or make breakfast, so these responsibilities fall to you. She doesn’t like the kids at her bus stop so you sit through a car line so long and tedious that you begin to yearn for a day at the DMV. He forgot his homework. Better skip your exercise class and bring it up to him. She wants to play volleyball. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2TgAYQX via IFTTT

Stay Focused While Injured

There’s no point in living in fear. I called my dad crying and told him the bad news. On the very last run and very last jump of the day, I landed wrong on my skis and tore my ACL. The doctor said it would be at least a year before I’m weightlifting again and that I’ll need surgery to repair it. I was devastated and furious at myself for doing that jump. I began to rant about how I should have been smarter. I should have been more careful. I just spent the past six months working my ass off to come back from an ankle injury and was finally making progress in the gym. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2Ta7K6h via IFTTT

Stay Focused While Injured

There’s no point in living in fear. I called my dad crying and told him the bad news. On the very last run and very last jump of the day, I landed wrong on my skis and tore my ACL. The doctor said it would be at least a year before I’m weightlifting again and that I’ll need surgery to repair it. I was devastated and furious at myself for doing that jump. I began to rant about how I should have been smarter. I should have been more careful. I just spent the past six months working my ass off to come back from an ankle injury and was finally making progress in the gym. read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2tBf6Bq via IFTTT

Become a Blazing Fast Runner

There is no doubt that if a runner regularly hits the hills, they get stronger, more powerful, and ultimately faster. There is no doubt that if a runner regularly hits the hills, they get stronger, more powerful, and ultimately faster. I am all about speed! However, you should vary the structure of your hill program throughout the season.   Since hill work is stressful, adaptation, progression, and periodization are of the utmost importance. A healthy dose of hill running can be a valuable component of your weekly training program .   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2GExsKc via IFTTT

Become a Blazing Fast Runner

There is no doubt that if a runner regularly hits the hills, they get stronger, more powerful, and ultimately faster. There is no doubt that if a runner regularly hits the hills, they get stronger, more powerful, and ultimately faster. I am all about speed! However, you should vary the structure of your hill program throughout the season. Since hill work is stressful, adaptation, progression, and periodization are of the utmost importance. A healthy dose of hill running can be a valuable component of your weekly training program .   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2T5SreQ via IFTTT

Ankle Mobility - Training Inside Out

Most athletes focus too much on the primary muscles, meaning legs, quads, hamstrings, the big muscle groups. It's been a while since I posted but to get back into the swing things in 2019, I am going to kick it off big with a series of instructional articles and videos starting with an often overlooked topic - ankle mobility. The videos below were created with Wade Maselich, our PT at Precision CrossFit , my gym in Agoura Hills, California.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2BKzwfK via IFTTT

Ankle Mobility - Training Inside Out

Most athletes focus too much on the primary muscles, meaning legs, quads, hamstrings, the big muscle groups. It's been a while since I posted but to get back into the swing things in 2019, I am going to kick it off big with a series of instructional articles and videos starting with an often overlooked topic - ankle mobility. The videos below were created with Wade Maselich, our PT at Precision CrossFit , my gym in Agoura Hills, California.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2IuA6E5 via IFTTT

A Word of Advice to the Vegan Athlete

This article isn't about whether you should or shouldn’t go vegan as an athlete. It's about doing the best with the choices you make, whatever your reasons. Thinking about going vegan?   You aren’t alone. Vegan female athletes are on the rise. If you decide to embrace the vegan lifestyle, you’ll be joining the ranks of elite athletes like:   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2E9gCzF via IFTTT

A Word of Advice to the Vegan Athlete

This article isn't about whether you should or shouldn’t go vegan as an athlete. It's about doing the best with the choices you make, whatever your reasons. Thinking about going vegan?   You aren’t alone. Vegan female athletes are on the rise. If you decide to embrace the vegan lifestyle, you’ll be joining the ranks of elite athletes like:   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2tvL5Tu via IFTTT

Family Nutrition Made Easy: Beans and Brown Rice

Feeding your family well doesn’t have to take up every moment of your evening or break the bank. We live in the age of instant gratification. A smartphone driven world now expects instant responses to mail that once would have taken weeks and feels like they are slumming it when they choose to go with Amazon’s free 2-day shipping. NFL fans expect their quarterbacks to be legends by year three and beginning weightlifters grow frustrated when they don’t add twenty pounds of muscle in the first month. We’ve forgotten the wisdom of marinating and slow-cooking.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2IzZ59g via IFTTT

Family Nutrition Made Easy: Beans and Brown Rice

Feeding your family well doesn’t have to take up every moment of your evening or break the bank. We live in the age of instant gratification. A smartphone driven world now expects instant responses to mail that once would have taken weeks and feels like they are slumming it when they choose to go with Amazon’s free 2-day shipping. NFL fans expect their quarterbacks to be legends by year three and beginning weightlifters grow frustrated when they don’t add twenty pounds of muscle in the first month. We’ve forgotten the wisdom of marinating and slow-cooking.   read more from Breaking Muscle https://ift.tt/2twOGRc via IFTTT

Stick to the Ribs Nordic Fish Chowder

Stews that “stick to the ribs” have a comforting appeal, particularly during the most recent polar vortex. Stews that “stick to the ribs” have a comforting appeal, particularly during the most recent polar vortex . Nordic style stews, like this fish chowder, use a variety of vegetables to flavor the base and most often use starchy root vegetables like celeriac, turnip, or potatoes to provide thickening to the soup as well as nutritional energy.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2TWbghJ via IFTTT

Stick to the Ribs Nordic Fish Chowder

Stews that “stick to the ribs” have a comforting appeal, particularly during the most recent polar vortex. Stews that “stick to the ribs” have a comforting appeal, particularly during the most recent polar vortex . Nordic style stews, like this fish chowder, use a variety of vegetables to flavor the base and most often use starchy root vegetables like celeriac, turnip, or potatoes to provide thickening to the soup as well as nutritional energy.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2Ek2Mvt via IFTTT

A Stretch Training Primer

The most important choice is to find a stretch program that has a clear method, core principles, and certified fitness and wellness professionals. You’ve been suffering from chronic aches and back pain so you go to the doctor to get it checked out. You may find out you have a herniated disc , spinal stenosis, bulging disc, scoliosis or muscle strain . You’re not interested in surgery because it’s just not that bad - yet!     read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GxJZz6 via IFTTT

A Stretch Training Primer

The most important choice is to find a stretch program that has a clear method, core principles, and certified fitness and wellness professionals. You’ve been suffering from chronic aches and back pain so you go to the doctor to get it checked out. You may find out you have a herniated disc , spinal stenosis, bulging disc, scoliosis or muscle strain . You’re not interested in surgery because it’s just not that bad - yet!     read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2SciYT1 via IFTTT

Strong Parents, Strong Kids

By consistently facing physical resistance we gain confidence that permeates every other meaningful life endeavor. Strength is the ability to overcome resistance and the capacity to endure external force . Life is a revolving door of resistance and pressure. Despite the delusions of a safe-space culture, this is inevitable and necessary. Fulfilled people find strength from the resistance.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2EcybQf via IFTTT

Steel Cut Oats: Healthy Breakfast for the Whole Family

Making a healthy family breakfast doesn't have to be inconvenient. Most grow up eating Pop Tarts or Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast. It isn’t until we leave home that we realize the insanity of having dessert for breakfast. Even those cereals billed as healthy, like Cheerios and Granola, tend to be less than ideal options. Immersed in the norms of our convenience food society, we have to rethink how we design breakfast.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GN5MSP via IFTTT

Strong Parents, Strong Kids

By consistently facing physical resistance we gain confidence that permeates every other meaningful life endeavor. Strength is the ability to overcome resistance and the capacity to endure external force . Life is a revolving door of resistance and pressure. Despite the delusions of a safe-space culture, this is inevitable and necessary. Fulfilled people find strength from the resistance. They adapt, grow, and are made into a greater version. Others feel victimized that the world didn’t acquiesce their narrow, ego-centric wants. read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2BGpnke via IFTTT

Steel Cut Oats: Healthy Breakfast for the Whole Family

Making a healthy family breakfast doesn't have to be inconvenient. Most grow up eating Pop Tarts or Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast. It isn’t until we leave home that we realize the insanity of having dessert for breakfast. Even those cereals billed as healthy, like Cheerios and Granola, tend to be less than ideal options. Immersed in the norms of our convenience food society, we have to rethink how we design breakfast.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2X9Fznh via IFTTT

Double Barrel Rows to Build Muscle

By using double barrel rolls, you can stimulate a muscle across every inch of every rep. As a hardgainer who coaches other hardgainers, I like efficiency in the gym . Doing too much training and failing to spend enough time recovering is one of our biggest stumbling blocks. As such, I try to program exercises that get the most muscle building stimulus on a rep by rep basis.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2TMmHZ3 via IFTTT

Double Barrel Rows to Build Muscle

By using double barrel rolls, you can stimulate a muscle across every inch of every rep. As a hardgainer who coaches other hardgainers, I like efficiency in the gym . Doing too much training and failing to spend enough time recovering is one of our biggest stumbling blocks. As such, I try to program exercises that get the most muscle building stimulus on a rep by rep basis.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2TQWl8k via IFTTT

The Four Alarm Workout For Powerful, Portable Fitness

By taking advantage of the many small chunks of time in our day, even the busiest people can fit an extremely effective training dose. This program fits fitness into any lifestyle. The world has never turned faster. We are chasing the kids out of the house, battling traffic, rushing to meetings, and constantly responding to email. Engulfed by this whack-a-mole lifestyle, many simply conclude they no longer have time to exercise . Yet, there is something else at play, as well.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2ByVAtv via IFTTT

The Four Alarm Workout For Powerful, Portable Fitness

By taking advantage of the many small chunks of time in our day, even the busiest people can fit an extremely effective training dose. This program fits fitness into any lifestyle. The world has never turned faster. We are chasing the kids out of the house, battling traffic, rushing to meetings, and constantly responding to email. Engulfed by this whack-a-mole lifestyle, many simply conclude they no longer have time to exercise . Yet, there is something else at play, as well.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GFNmTV via IFTTT

6 Unhealthy Norms Plaguing Us All

Modern norms have created devastating global health picture and all signs point to this trend worsening in our youngest generation. What is normal is not normal . The human biology expects sunlight, constant movement, physical novelty, whole, natural foods, close relationships built upon shared purposeful efforts for survival, and a generally slow life pace. Today it is normal to eat exclusively processed, convenience foods, to remain indoors all day except for trips in our temperature controlled cars, to feel pulled and prodded by constant message alerts, and to sit all day, predominantly with our face in a screen while being passively entertained. read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2RXB3UK via IFTTT

6 Unhealthy Norms Plaguing Us All

Modern norms have created devastating global health picture and all signs point to this trend worsening in our youngest generation. What is normal is not normal . The human biology expects sunlight, constant movement, physical novelty, whole, natural foods, close relationships built upon shared purposeful efforts for survival, and a generally slow life pace. Today it is normal to eat exclusively processed, convenience foods, to remain indoors all day except for trips in our temperature controlled cars, to feel pulled and prodded by constant message alerts, and to sit all day, predominantly with our face in a screen while being passively entertained. read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2SJacR2 via IFTTT

The Ultimate Band Pressdown

The exercise is deceptively simple, but there are a series of brilliant elements that come together to make it so effective. I definitely want to give credit where credit is due for this exercise . I didn’t invent it but I did learn it from Kassem Hanson . It is a phenomenal triceps builder. When I saw him demo the exercise I thought, “That’s brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?”   The exercise is deceptively simple, but there are a series of brilliant elements that come together to make it so effective.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2HWvKp5 via IFTTT

Defensive Strength for Women: The Power of a Push

You may come up against a bigger, stronger opponent. You should have the tools to escape, evade, and defend yourself and it starts with a strong body. Photo by Bev Childress of Fort Worth, Texas   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GdXh3C via IFTTT

The Ultimate Guide to Meeting Your Goals

Focusing on the small steps that need to be taken on a consistent basis is the key to success.   At the beginning of each year, I am super busy with writing personalized plans for people who want to start the year off fresh with goals they want to achieve . They are feeling excited and positive for the changes ahead .   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2DV2wmg via IFTTT

Defensive Strength for Women: The Power of a Push

You may come up against a bigger, stronger opponent. You should have the tools to escape, evade, and defend yourself and it starts with a strong body. Photo by Bev Childress of Fort Worth, Texas   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2TyylGR via IFTTT

The Ultimate Band Pressdown

The exercise is deceptively simple, but there are a series of brilliant elements that come together to make it so effective. I definitely want to give credit where credit is due for this exercise . I didn’t invent it but I did learn it from Kassem Hanson . It is a phenomenal triceps builder. When I saw him demo the exercise I thought, “That’s brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that?”   The exercise is deceptively simple, but there are a series of brilliant elements that come together to make it so effective.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2I6lWci via IFTTT

The Ultimate Guide to Meeting Your Goals

Focusing on the small steps that need to be taken on a consistent basis is the key to success.   At the beginning of each year, I am super busy with writing personalized plans for people who want to start the year off fresh with goals they want to achieve. They are feeling excited and positive for the changes ahead .   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2DhjLN9 via IFTTT

Trust the Process

Trusting the process means understanding your intention. I'd like you to step outside the box and take a look at life through a different set of lenses . This article is meant to pertain to the fitness lifestyle, but it also has carryover into the application of everyday life. Understanding how to not take life so seriously and manifest whatever your dreams and desires are is a crucial part of the human experience , yet many of us don’t know how to make these things become our reality.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GrLwpl via IFTTT

Trust the Process

Trusting the process means understanding your intention. I'd like you to step outside the box and take a look at life through a different set of lenses . This article is meant to pertain to the fitness lifestyle, but it also has carryover into the application of everyday life. Understanding how to not take life so seriously and manifest whatever your dreams and desires are is a crucial part of the human experience , yet many of us don’t know how to make these things become our reality.    read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2WGCCtT via IFTTT

I Wish I Could Do That

Too many limit themselves by a self-fulfilling prophecy about the limits of their own willpower. Recently, I made the transition to a bike commuting lifestyle . While I had often professed a desire to bike to work more often, the modest inconvenience of this deviation usually prompted me to drive. By removing the option for car convenience, I now always bike and am truly happier for it .   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GmRTdO via IFTTT

I Wish I Could Do That

Too many limit themselves by a self-fulfilling prophecy about the limits of their own willpower. Recently, I made the transition to a bike commuting lifestyle . While I had often professed a desire to bike to work more often, the modest inconvenience of this deviation usually prompted me to drive. By removing the option for car convenience, I now always bike and am truly happier for it .   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2Bi9RuK via IFTTT

Choose the Right Weight Class for Olympic Weightlifting

A weightlifter should strive to be in the optimal weight category for their body to be able to perform the best they can. A weightlifter should strive to be in the optimal weight category for their body to be able to perform the best they can . It can certainly be the difference between a podium finish and a mid-field finish.   The body weight category that an athlete competes in will largely depend on their current body weight and body fat levels. The lifter will want to have as much muscle on their frame as they can to enhance their strength potential while being relatively lean to increase power output.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2Bh5jVk via IFTTT

Supplements, Seriously?

Why has it become normal to need extra helpings in the form of bottled pills and powdered scoops? In history books, nutritional deficiencies have usually been found in the wake of wars, droughts, and the wide-spread famine that results. These days though, most of us have the time and the resources to enjoy a balanced, nutrient-rich diet so why has it become normal to need extra helpings in the form of bottled pills and powdered scoops ?   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2BckFKv via IFTTT

Supplements, Seriously?

Why has it become normal to need extra helpings in the form of bottled pills and powdered scoops? In history books, nutritional deficiencies have usually been found in the wake of wars, droughts, and the wide-spread famine that results. These days though, most of us have the time and the resources to enjoy a balanced, nutrient-rich diet so why has it become normal to need extra helpings in the form of bottled pills and powdered scoops ?   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2GkUnt1 via IFTTT

Choose the Right Weight Class for Olympic Weightlifting

A weightlifter should strive to be in the optimal weight category for their body to be able to perform the best they can. A weightlifter should strive to be in the optimal weight category for their body to be able to perform the best they can . It can certainly be the difference between a podium finish and a mid-field finish. The body weight category that an athlete competes in will largely depend on their current body weight and body fat levels. The lifter will want to have as much muscle on their frame as they can to enhance their strength potential while being relatively lean to increase power output.   read more from Breaking Muscle http://bit.ly/2S8DLvF via IFTTT