Lang Athletics

Topic Tuesday?

I thought a catchy title would be fun, but not sure it’s gong to fly.

The headline quote is from the late Dr. Ed Cole.  I love quotes, and I love Dr. Cole’s work.  Good stuff for the mind and spirit alike.  But I digress.

Today let’s chat about what I’ve been learning lately, and see if it can’t help you out in some way.

A little over a month ago I had my tonsils removed.  Actually got through it pretty well, especially after hearing some horror stories others had experienced.  I do think being in great shape before the operation helped my recovery, but I definitely listened to my doctor and took their advice (along with my mom’s) of resting for a couple weeks post-op.

What’s a guy to do when he can’t train for two weeks?

Read, that’s what.

*Take home lesson #1: never stop learning.  I forget who said it, but “it’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts.”

In my younger years I hated to read.  We’d have to take tests at school about the books we read and earn points toward a field trip at the end of the year (I never made the trip).  My lowest grade ever was actually in a junior high English class, simply because I “earned” so few points from reading.

Boy have times changed.

Nowadays I love to read, especially because I get to choose what I read.  No one is making me read.  I’m not tested over the material.  And it has much more carryover to everyday life because the books I read pertain to my passion of training, health, nutrition, and overall fitness and well being.

Also, the more I learn and apply in my own life, the better I can serve others in their own quest for better health, strength, weight loss, etc.

*Take home lesson #2: if your only concern is yourself, you’ll be pretty miserable at the end of the day.  Helping others always helps you.

I’m not saying give up all your time to charity and volunteerism and work yourself tirelessly into the ground.  There is definitely a need to developing yourself and spending time regenerating, recovering, refueling if you will.  But this will fill your tank so you can go out and help more people.  Find the balance between these two and you’ll find greater fulfillment.

So, back to my studying.  One of the books (yes, plural) I read was The Dark Side of Fat Loss, by Sean Croxton.  I LOVE his writing style, and one quote stuck out that cracked me up…but I can relate to in a way.  He said he received his college degree as so many others have, but “got his master’s from Amazon.com.”  Haha!!  I’m semi-addicted to buying books from Amazon, and while I don’t think I’m quite at a master’s level yet, I’ve learned perhaps more in the 4 years since college than I did my 4 years there.  So, invest in yourself and never stop learning!

I’m getting a bit long winded, so I’ll save some book reviews and more in depth write ups for another post.  But here are some bullet points for you to think about and chew on for a while.

 

Dark Side of Fat Loss, by Sean Croxton  (order here)

• Simply exercising more and eating less will never work long-term
• Your hormones are the key to fat loss…and almost everything else
• Treating symptoms will never provide long-term results, you must get to the root cause
• It’s not so much how many calories you consume, as it is where those calories come from
• Your habits today can and will affect your children (and even your grandchildren)

 

Power to the People, by Pavel (order here)

• If strength is your goal, quit spending so much time in the gym
• The nervous system is the key to developing super human strength
• Increase the weights, lower the volume
• More tension=more strength
• Frequent practice trumps marathon workout sessions

 

Beyond Bodybuilding, by Pavel (order here)

• Sometimes the most simple routines produce the best results
• Train for a specific goal, then switch things up
• It’s OK to get huge, but don’t neglect strength (there’s a difference)
• Do what other successful people do and have done

 

New Rules of Lifting for Life, by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove (order here)

• The importance of training increases as we age
• Develop all around physical fitness, and feel years younger
• You’re not 18 anymore (this applies to some of you more than others)
• Have a plan and execute that plan
• Yes, diet is important.  Your current diet is probably not up to snuff
• Training can be fun, even within a highly structured routine

 

You’ll probably notice I’ve been on a Pavel kick recently.  The two books above aren’t the only ones I’ve read of his lately.  As with any good author (or coach, trainer, etc.) I find myself wanting to read all of their works because I want to glean as much as possible from them.

I’ll be back in a few days with some more detailed reviews of these books (and drop some Truth Bombs as Croxton says!).

Until then, train hard, train smart, and don’t forget how important nutrition and sleep really are:)

Sim