CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 8/7/15

I wanted to begin today by saying thank you. Thank you to Jon Stewart and The Daily Show for 16 kick-ass years.

Every morning, for I don’t know how long, my ritual has been…

1. Get-up.

2. Pee.

3. Make breakfast.

4. Watch The Daily Show while eating breakfast.

And that’s how I roll.

This morning, however, was the last time I’d be eating my 5-egg omelet1 while watching and listening to Stewart’s commentary on everything from shady politicians and government BS to his pining about the New York Mets2 and the travesty, that is, eating a slice of pizza with a fork.

 

Not coincidentally, I suspect, this morning was also the last morning I’d end up with pieces of egg on my computer screen from laughing so hard.

Okay, deep breaths…I shouldn’t be so cynical. I’m sure Trevor Noah is going to do a fantastic job taking over for Stewart on the show. I’m still going to get up, make breakfast, and watch. But it’s going to take a while to get used to not having Stewart on screen to serve as the voice of reason, bringing to light some of the WTFness of the world, and making us laugh all the same.

Wait, what was that? No, of course not. I’m not crying! Are you kidding me? It just so happens, you know, Lisa’s in the kitchen cutting a bunch of onions. Yeah that’s it. No crying here.

Thanks again Jon.

Sounding Off – Christa Vancini Doran

I LOVED this article by Christa – owner of Tuff Girl Fitness in Hamden, CT. Christa is one of my “go to” ambassadors for women’s fitness and someone who, not only I respect a ton, but someone who unabashedly doesn’t back down from fighting many of the mainstream stigmas and myths plaguing women in fitness today. One deadlift, squat, chin-up, kettlebell swing, and push-up at a time.

Musings of a Disturbed Strength Coach – Film Fest Edition – Lee Boyce

Anyone who knows me well knows I love movies. Or, to play more of the uppity movie snob role, I love film.

I’m just as likely to head to the independent theater down the street from my apartment to watch a subtitled Italian film about a dude who makes a bowl of rigatoni for a chick he likes as I am to head to the movieplex to watch explosions, zombies, ninjas, hobbits, and exploding zombies fighting ninjas and hobbits.

Lee’s a good friend, phenomenal coach, and just as obsessed with movies as I am. We’ll often text each our reviews of recent movie we watched.

This post was a very witty and impressive feat of wordplay by Lee.

75+ movie references with a (fitness) message to boot. Give it a read.

Advanced Core Training – Dean Somerset

There’s only a few more days to take advantage of the sale price for Dean’s latest resource. He did an amazing job with it – as always – and I feel it would be a valuable addition to any trainer or coach looking to upgrade their knowledge base on “core” anatomy, assessment, and building exercise progression/regression algorithms.

Here’s a small clip:

 

Full Disclosure/Rant Ahead: Dean is a good friend, he was in my wedding, we’ve shared what was seemingly a 10×10 square foot room in the middle of London for four days, but still managed to avoid spooning each other.3

I can understand why some people would be suspect I’d promote his product. Affiliate circle jerking is what it’s often affectionately called on the internet. So cute!

Contrary to popular belief, us coaches and educators who have the audacity to make a living and release/promote fitness products don’t sit in our evil volcanos riding around in a roller coaster made of blow jobs as we hit the refresh button on our Clickbank accounts.

Most of us are working and training people on a day-to-day basis.

Moreover, we actually do want to help people, and educate, and take pride in our work, as well as pride in who and what we put our own names behind.

Do I make a little money in the process? Sure. What’s wrong with that? Given the amount of free content I (as well as my colleagues) provide on weekly basis I don’t see what the harm is.

Am I supposed to apologize for having smart friends who routinely put out amazing content and resources? I THINK NOT, KIND SIR!!!

Anyways, Advanced Core Training is an amazing resource. I think it kicks-ass. I think it will help a lot of trainers out there who are looking to separate themselves from the masses and who are looking to further develop their skill set.

Now excuse me, it’s my turn on the roller coaster. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

CategoriesStuff to Read While You're Pretending to Work

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 2/6/15

Another week, another foot of snow here in New England. I grew up in Central NY, and have lived in the northeast my entire life so I know what a lot of snow is and I’m not of those people who complains about it.

It’s like people who live in Florida complaining about the humidity or Tom Brady complaining about having the greatest life, ever.

But good grief….they’re saying we may get another foot this weekend.

Which makes me all the more pumped for my trip to Australia in less than a month. As a quick reminder I’ll be heading “down under” in early March to put on not one, but TWO workshops. a 2-Day event in Ballina, NSW the weekend of March 7th-8th, in addition to a 1-Day event in Sydney on Saturday, March 14th.

Details including locations, cost, the over/under I’ll even touch the ocean with my big toe4, and sign-up information can be found HERE.

I also wanted to remind people that registration is still open for the 2nd Annual SUNY Cortland Strength & Conditioning Symposium (March 28th). I’ll be hitting up my alma mater (and doing my best General Zod impersonation…..KNEEL BEFORE ME!) along with Nick Tumminello, Mark Fisher, John Gaglione, and Joy Victoria for what will undoubtedly be a day full of mind melting.

Details can be found HERE.

How to Win an Argument With a Vegan – Kris Gunnars

Pew, pew, pew. Shots fired. Shots fired!

I’ll make the same statement as the author: I have nothing against vegans or vegetarians. If someone chooses not to eat meat for environmental, health, or ethical reasons…far be it from me to pass judgement.

Although I do find it comical that there are many vegan or vegetarian food options that mimic the foods they’re so adamantly against. Tofurkey burger anyone?

Looks like a hamburger and tastes like turkey. Hmmmmmm.

Anyways, what my main beef (<— LOL, awesome pun) is with some pundits is their claim that all animal protein is unhealthy, which is absurd. This article explains why.

Power to the SHE – Christa Vancini Doran

I am all about messages that help and encourage women to challenge themselves (namely in the gym). I hate pretty much every message the mainstream media attempts to throw in women’s faces – lean and long, tone, thigh gap, lose inches in days, weights make you big and bulky, blah blah blah blah –  all in the name of selling a product or sex appeal.

I understand sex sells – I’m not a moron – but how it’s delivered in the realm of health and fitness is lame IMO.

I’m a huge fan of Christa and the culture she’s built at her facility. Ladies, THIS is the type of person you should follow and learn from; not some overly hyped, narcissistic, selfie-taking nimrod who’s only claim to fame is having the world’s most exaggerated case of anterior pelvic tilt.

Squats: Fold-Ability and Proportion – Tom Purvis

I felt this was a fantastic, quick video on squat mechanics and how taking into consideration each person’s anthropometry and leverages will dictate what their squat will look like. Definitely worth five minutes of your time.