Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 7/7/2011

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Awesome New (to me) Fitness Blog For Women (www.heyjoob.com) – Juliet

As someone who’s constantly fighting the seemingly never ending battle to convince women that it’s not the end of the world to place a barbell on their back and squat it every once in a while – and that they’re more likely to make out with Brad Pitt than end up all “big-n-bulky” because they happen to do a few chin-ups – I’m ecstatic whenever I come across blogs that help to spread the word and help to direct women away from the stupid.

It’s hard, though.

I mean, when you have the likes of Tracy Anderson – someone whom thousands (if not millions) of women consider an authority on fitness – spewing out gems like this (below), referring to her approach to training Kim Kardashian, it’s hard not to want to throw my face into a brick wall…….repeatedly

We don’t want to take away Kim’s amazing curves,” Tracy Anderson, one of Kim’s trainers, says. “We just do specific movements to tighten the skin and to pull the muscles tight against the bone.

This is the same woman who, in her infinite wisdom (note excessive sarcasm), believes that no woman should ever lift a weight above three lbs.  Ever.

Which is why, I want to direct everyone to Juliet’s blog.  Juliet (sorry, I don’t know last name) is a frequent reader of this blog, and someone who goes out of her way to post comments when she feels so inclined.  It’s only been recently that I actually took the time to check out her stuff, and well, I think it’s pretty cool and something I like a lot of fitness enthusiasts will enjoy.  So, show Juliet some love and check it out for yourself!

Power Endurance – Charlie Weingroff

Not that I really have to go out of my way to say so, but Charlie is kinda smart.  Here, he discusses why improving movement quality – as well as utilizing some dedicated time under the bar – can (and will) help improve power endurance to boot.  Contrary to popular belief, improving performance on the court/ice/field/bedroom (bom chicka bom bom), often starts in the gym.

Heart and Stroke Foundation Pushing Video Gaming for Fitness Now? – Yoni Freedhoff

Thanks to my friend, Mark Young, I just started reading Dr. Freedhoff’s blog recently, and I have to say, it freakin rocks.  The Doc writes extensively on obesity research, but along the way, he’ll step on a few toes and basically call “bullshit” when he feels the need to.  This post does exactly that.

I’ve never really bought into this whole “play video games to get fit” trend.  Sure, I get it:  it’s better than nothing and it at least gets people moving.  But, does it really?   According Dr. Freedhoff – not really.

My understanding is that Wii Fit burns negligible amounts of calories, and has never been shown to have any significant impact on “fitness“.

One study comparing Wii Fit Aerobics to treadmill use reported,

Heart rate during Wii aerobics fell below the recommended intensity for maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness

Another, looking at Wii Sports and kids reported,

The energy used when playing active Wii Sports games was not of high enough intensity to contribute towards the recommended daily amount of exercise in children.

Furthermore, another recent study demonstrated that video game playing increased food intake in adolescents.

I remember the days when I was a kid and would literally spend the entire day outside riding my bike, playing kickball, baseball, wiffleball, basketball, and swimming.  Shoot, my mom wouldn’t even see me until it was dark outside – and even then, my brother and I would head upstairs and do stupid things like reenact WWF Summer Slam and throw one another through a wall. That really happened!

It’s sad that in today’s society kids are more apt to enter a speed texting competition than play Little League. Moreoever, what does it say when we promote “being active” as standing in front of a television moving your arms around a liittle bit?

I don’t get it.

Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.

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Comments for This Entry

  • Laura

    'pull the muscles tight against the bone'. what?

    July 7, 2011 at 6:42 am | Reply to this comment

  • Chris

    I have a gap between my muscles and bones...I think I need to tighten it.

    July 7, 2011 at 7:33 am | Reply to this comment

  • Nock

    Tony, Well put about the state of our youth these days......one of the biggest arguments I used to have with my dad when I was a kid was him trying to get me to come home from the BBall court.....smh. Now parents are trying/begging their kids to get outside and play.

    July 7, 2011 at 8:03 am | Reply to this comment

  • Juliet

    I was checking my blog this afternoon and there were maybe... a gazillion more hits than normal? I was really confused until I saw one of my readers commented about your post. So, wow, thank you for the shout out! (My last name is Gotthardt by the way... nice 'n German) I recently started reading Yoni Freedhoff's blog as well and he has great bullshit radar. I really enjoyed his piece this morning on restaurant portion sizes too. Thanks again!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:30 am | Reply to this comment

  • Glen

    "bom chicka bom bom" Dude, I just spit up my lunch! Freakin A bro! Hilarious! As for wiffle ball, I think I'm still the all time homerun king in my parents back yard (of course nobody's played there since the late 80's). You absolutely kill me!

    July 7, 2011 at 9:45 am | Reply to this comment

  • Peter

    Sorry Tony, but I actually had to stop reading after Anderson's Kim Kardashian comment. She should work for the Department of Defense. I swear simply hearing her words immediately lowers one's intelligence, so her idiotic pronouncements could be used to soften up terrorist targets. Pulling muscles tighter against bone? Seriously?? So slack tendons are a big problem, right? And does this mean she has finally given up on creating LONGER muscles in favor of making them short and taut enough so they lay closely against the bone?!? I believe she actually gets progressively dumber.

    July 7, 2011 at 10:03 am | Reply to this comment

  • Marshall Roy

    "Heavy DLs will improve your limit strength so you can swing a KB for 20 minutes instead of 18 minutes which will increase your gas tank for when you are playing pickup basketball. It all started with some adaptation to make the 24kg kettlebell feel lighter. (What’s interesting though is that it probably doesn’t work in the reverse. Playing pickup won’t get your stronger.)" Love this. Concise and logical. Also congrats to Juliet. I found her blog a few weeks ago and have enjoyed it a lot.

    July 7, 2011 at 2:38 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Amy

    I think Tracy Anderson has the skin pulled too tight around her brain, and it must be starving it of oxygen. Thanks Tony for the link. I'm a woman who loves to lift heavy, and just love to find other women who are not afraid to do the same!! I'll be checking out Juliet's blog.

    July 8, 2011 at 11:27 am | Reply to this comment

  • Mark Young

    Hey man, So glad you started reading Yoni's blog man. So much great stuff there. Very much appreciate the shout out as well.

    July 10, 2011 at 8:20 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Scott

    Great article, I have had this conversation with my wife multiple times...its almost to the point of laughter anymore...we as parents always try to find excuses for getting our kids off the couch, oh its too hot, or whatever they come up with...We have xbox and wii:( I can't stand any of them...but only allow certain amount of time..on a beautiful day they better be outside..But parents need to stop finding excuses for kids and let them figure stuff out...if not, as adults they will be unhappy and lost

    July 11, 2011 at 9:29 am | Reply to this comment

  • Gordon Wayne Watts

    Maybe these so-called 'experts' should "do specific movements to tighten her upper lip closed shut against her lower lip" -- and shut up -- I'm sure she couldn't lift her way out a paper bag. LOL he heh (wicked grin) ;D Not to be outdone on 'web knowledge'... he heh... here's my gem of the day: Hey, Tony: You've now got the ranked #1 in the world in this phrase search: http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=%22do+specific+movements+to+tighten+the+skin+and+to+pull+the+muscles+tight+against+the+bone.%22&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=379f8f2fda529b02&biw=1680&bih=849 ;D

    July 29, 2011 at 2:22 pm | Reply to this comment

  • Stop. Rewind. | Hey Joob!

    [...] it was a great inspiration for a post.  I have more readers now than ever before, mostly due to Tony Gentilcore (Thanks again! Your last name rhymes with Al Gore’s, by the way. Kind of.).  Tues, Wed, and [...]

    December 26, 2011 at 2:26 pm | Reply to this comment

  • xiaochen

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    March 26, 2012 at 10:28 pm | Reply to this comment

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