This weekend I had a chance to take a break from coaching and be a fan. My 9 year-old niece’s team played in their very first soccer tournament. As a fan, I got to let everyone else do the work. I sat in my chair, relaxed, and generally enjoyed watching the girls diligently run around the soccer pitch. I could see them working through problems to find solutions, pushing themselves to work hard even though they were tired and, for the most part, having fun regardless of the score. Everything sports is supposed to be about. But one little girl in particular caught my attention. And she was everything sports is not supposed to be about. Continue reading “Why I Love Sports, But Not So Much The Culture…”
Coach Tom’s Blog
The Experts Still Don’t Agree on How Exactly to Lose Weight and Keep it Off
If you are trying to lose weight, and as much as 70% of the US population is, it is a seriously maddening situation. And, it is not your fault! In a recent article in POPSUGAR entitled “According to the Experts, This Is Exactly How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off” three experts have three very different solutions to weight loss. If they cannot figure it out, how can you? I will tell you: Take a deep breath, strip away the nonsense and stick with basic ideas. Continue reading “The Experts Still Don’t Agree on How Exactly to Lose Weight and Keep it Off”
Food vs Fitness Sludge: And the Winner is…
Ah the beloved “protein shake.” The answer to all of our fitness questions wrapped up in one oddly-colored sludge. According to an insightful article at internationally respected Popsugar entitled: “These Dietitians Explain the Best Ways to Drink Protein Shakes for Weight Loss” if you need to lose weight, drink sludge with veggies. Need to gain weight, drink sludge with more protein. Need to increase energy, you guessed it, sludge with both! Essentially if you have the IQ of or exceeding a well-educated house-plant you will basically want to abandon all solid food and rely completely on sludge. Oh the nonsense! And here is why: Continue reading “Food vs Fitness Sludge: And the Winner is…”
Overweight and Out of Shape? Blame Coach Yelsenspitz
If you have ever participated in sports at any level you are likely familiar with Coach Yelsenspitz. Yelsenspitz is the highly qualified dad who responded last to the e-mail thread and was named head coach of your team. He draws on his vast array of experience including: watching Disney sports movies, watching professional sporting events while under the influence of domestic beer, and being named most improved player on his junior varsity team. His vague but ambitious goals for the team of 12 year-old football players look something like: Continue reading “Overweight and Out of Shape? Blame Coach Yelsenspitz”
The Experts Agree, Lunging Should be Cheerful and Lively
Article after article claims to have the best exercise for… fill in your favorite activity. In bold letters at the top will be: “The 5 BEST Exercises for Making Your Ass So Big You Cannot Shop for Underwear In Normal Stores.” or “Do this High Intensity Cardio Weight Blast Insanity 5 Times a Week for 95 Seconds and Fat Will Literally Fall Off of You In Large Clumps While You Walking Down the Street.” In yet another article will be the same activities for a different result or different activities for the same result. Often these so-called experts do not even agree on how to perform the “BEST” activity! And they all seem to forget about Law of Fitness #11. Continue reading “The Experts Agree, Lunging Should be Cheerful and Lively”
The International Solution to Weight Loss: Yoga for Open Organs
The Untied States continues to spread its influence across the globe. To the list of contributions such as The Assembly Line, The Cotton Gin, Freedom and Democracy we can now add… weight-loss gimmicks! Obesity is certainly not uniquely American, but as with many things, we certainly are a leader in the field. With that comes, like cockroaches to a spilled bottle of Shasta, “experts” to help combat obesity. A recent article in the highly respected TimesNowNews(.com) out of New Delhi has the 5 INCREDIBLE reasons why yoga will help YOU lose weight. Continue reading “The International Solution to Weight Loss: Yoga for Open Organs”
Is the 16:8 Diet the real deal or just another diet? 3 Things to consider before diving in.
The 16:8 Diet is receiving a lot of attention due to claims you can eat with reckless abandon as long as you do it during an 8-Hour eating window. A recent feature on the Today Show reports, “When obese people structured their schedule so that they fasted for 16 hours a day, but were free to eat whatever they wanted in the other eight hours — known as the 16:8 diet, or time-restricted feeding — they modestly lost weight” But what does it mean? Does it really work? And most importantly will it work for you? Continue reading “Is the 16:8 Diet the real deal or just another diet? 3 Things to consider before diving in.”
How Kate Middleton More Likely Shed Her Baby Weight in Just Seven Weeks
An article by Celebrity Insider claims to have the answers to how Kate Middleton lost weight after giving birth to her third child. The article makes some vague references to cutting out sugar and carbs and getting some exercise. But the meat of the story is it is just plain genetics. An interview with a “midwife expert” suggests if your “Mum” recovered well, so should you! So in summary: Kate Middleton is a genetically superior princess who is immune to cravings and burns 2500 calories when she walks down the stairs for morning tea. Yep, you are none of those things. You’re screwed. Continue reading “How Kate Middleton More Likely Shed Her Baby Weight in Just Seven Weeks”
The 10 Fat Burning Tips That Don’t help Anyone Get a Shredded Physique, Especially Not You
I enjoy reading fitness magazines. Occasionally they provide useful fitness tips but more often than not they rely on pseudo science, anecdotal evidence and old-wives tales. This is the case for a recent Muscle and Fitness Article entitled 10 Fat-Torching Tips for a Shredded Physique. I will breakdown the article and explain why each tip does or does not conform with science and how, overall, these tips will never help you get shredded. Continue reading “The 10 Fat Burning Tips That Don’t help Anyone Get a Shredded Physique, Especially Not You”
Is playing College Sports the Right Choice for me?
Mark is 13 years old, shy, but full of energy. He plays baseball for the area’s “top club” and his coach says he is one of the most natural athletes he has worked with. All Mark needs to do is play 9 to 10 months out of the year, work with a private hitting coach 2 to 3 times a week, be in the weight-room 4 to 5 times a week, and keep his grades up. Continue reading “Is playing College Sports the Right Choice for me?”