Random Randomness

Hey folks. I hope everyone has enjoyed the early summer in the Northeast. Here are some interesting tidbits picked up this week:

1. Woohoo! The New York Times is on the right track! "For people who lift weights to tone up and slim down, experts say, a regimen that includes a combination of challenging weights and fewer repetitions can help significantly."
2. Here is an good article sent to me by my girlfriend about unhealthy beverages, especially coffee. Coffee is perfectly healthy as it "contains only 5 calories, and the metabolism-boosting benefits of caffeine actually make coffee a good weight-loss supplement." But when you go to Starbucks or Dairy Queen and grab a coffee with all the junk added you can quickly end up drinking up to 1,200 calories!!
   
3. And for more highly scientific research about the many benefits of coffee check here.
4. If you are ready to take the next step with your eating habits and really improve your food quality check here for some great info on the difference between grass fed and conventionally raised animals.
5. I really liked this post from last week. It's about the 10 signs you have a bad trainer. So much money can be spent on fitness coaches and most people have no idea if their trainer is really any good. I would add one big one to this list. Ask your trainer what he/she has read recently or about any recent seminar attended. It is absolutely critical in this industry to remain current. I try to attend at least 4 seminars per year and am constantly reading books and online sources to stay current. I wouldn't be half the coach I am without this.
6. Speaking of, tomorrow I have the pleasure of presenting at the Massachusetts Association of Clinical Exercise Physiologists (MACEP) Annual Meeting. The name of the symposium (that's right, it's a symposium!) is "Bridging the Gap: Clinical Exercise & Fitness!" Included on the bill is a PhD, two MD's, and two other folks with letters that I have no idea what they mean. Tim Crowley and I are the only coaches in the bunch. One of the MD's is the "Weight Loss and Nutrition adviser" for The Biggest Loser. Read here for my take on that dreadful program and why I'm thinking that might be an interesting presentation. Our presentation is about the importance of Assessments, especially the Functional Movement Screen. We are going to explain how we use it to get and keep people healthy, fit, and injury free. We will also touch upon the advantages of this type of assessment vs the old forms of assessments like the sit and reach, curl up test, step test, push up test, etc. Anyway, this should be a fun day and at least it should supply me with some good blog fodder for next week. Until then, have a great weekend!