All of the new happenings at EDGE in one post!

Hello there!

First, don’t forget to vote for us in teh “Best of Western Washington” There is only a week left so get it in now! Copy and paste the link and vote! http://best.king5.com/edge-personal-training/biz/128454

Sorry for the delay in blog posts, September was a very busy month for EDGE! Not only is everyone starting to settle into their fall schedule, we have been busy setting up our Holiday toy drive with Ryther once again. I can’t give out the details yet but there is going to be some exciting news regarding the toy drive as well as an extra incentive for all who donate (above what EDGE does) stay tuned!

As for the Holiday party, it looks like we will be at Market Arms once again and I am thinking the 3^rd of December. It’s a Saturday and we’ll be able to take over a large section towards the back again. It was one helluva time last year and we look to make this year even better! It’s our way to say thank you to all of you who train/ed here and we love doing it. (Besides, who doesn’t like free booze and food?!)

The twitter account has once again been activated. I’ll be honest, I am not very good at twitter but it has been around long enough to know that it won’t go away. (just like Justin Beiber…) So I have accepted it’s existence and will try to be more proactive in using it. There will be trivia questions, info updates, special prices, etc. I just have to figure out how to use the damn thing…

Website changes will be coming soon! We have turned in quite a few changes to our i.t. department (I got a guy) and he is going to be making the changes as he can over the next month or so. Stay tuned…

New equipment has been delivered to EDGE! We bought some new “toys” for us to beat you up with. Some have enjoyed them already, others will know soon enough. Come in and check them out when you can.

That’s about it for us for now! Below are some new posts about things going on in the fitness world, read, laugh, enjoy!

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Reebok Lied to you…

Here is one right out of the “I told you so” department. When the “shape-ups” and “toner” shoes came out and Reebok and Sketchers claimed you could have firmer butts and thighs by wearing them I was one of the first to poo-poo them. They may be the most comfortable (albeit ugly as well) but any shoe, any shoe would give you firmer legs and butts if you walked 10-15 miles a week. Why? Because walking 10-15 miles a week works your legs and butt regardless of what show you’re wearing. So for the companies to claim that they were magically constructed out of rainbows, unicorn tears and pixie dust by magical elves in the fitness forest  nobody blinked because they were supposed to give you an ass so nice J-Lo would want yours. Well…they lied. Reebok is now settling a $25 million in refunds to anyone who bought the shoes with visions of tight butt cheeks dancing in their heads.  Click here to claim your refund if you were one of the ones who were duped. You can use the money to buy a new pair of shoes out there designed to improve your vertical…or sprint speed…or make you taller…or that can make you fly…

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Funny YouTube workout videos!

Some funny youtube “Fitness” videos for you to realize how well you have it here…

• You have to watch this one with sound, the things this guy is saying is actually funnier than his outfit…video here
• Yes, this is actually real. The hair and outfit seems to be 80’s…video here
• Ouch…but funny! video here
• 2 things with this one. First, you are recording yourself working out. Second, you’re Mom had to help you. C’mon man! video here
• I have no idea what is going on but you will enjoy it! video here

Have a great week folks!

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

1 in 2 people will be 2 in 1 by 2030

Apparently in less than 20 years half of the US adult population will be obese. Not just overweight, obese. According to a study that appears in the Lancet (I have no idea what that is either) the government needs to make healthy foods cheaper, and market them better, or the obesity crisis will continue to put a strain on our health care system. (among a million other things but this is not a poly-sci debate) I don’t know who these researchers are or where they came from, but I like ‘em. I’ve been saying for years to give kickbacks to farmers and stores that carry natural and organic products as well as rewarding those who aren’t obese with lower premiums. Conversely, we should also educate those who are obese and overweight on why they are. A lot of people have no idea what inactivity and poor nutrition can do to them and we should make sure that they get the necessary education on the subject. Let’s also make health class more than 1 quarter in high school and skip the whole child-birth section. I skipped those 3 days because guess what? I don’t give birth, I’m a guy. I knew I wasn’t going to be an OBGYN, a nurse or anything professional that had to root around down there for a baby. I would have liked more knowledge on food labels, what the difference was between saturated fat and non-saturated fat, how many calories I needed to burn to rid myself of the weekends excessive partying. Nutrition and exercise should be a mandatory course not only on the physical but the literary aspects as well. Even if you aren’t athletic or coordinated, being active benefits everyone. If you couple that with educating people on correct choices with their nutrition I’m pretty sure we could cut our current problem in half by 2030 instead of doubling it. (read the linked story here)

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Hope for cancer research…

It’s not necessarily in the fitness realm but there is some promising news about a cancer drug coming out of England. Scientists at Bradford University have harnessed the cancer fighting properties of the crocus and developed a targeted “smart bomb” that destroys cancerous tumors and not the healthy tissue. You can read more on the findings here. All of us have been touched by cancer in some way or another and I like what I see from this one!

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Vote for EDGE in the “Best of Western Washington!”

The Best of Western Washington is back once again and they have put EDGE up for the award. The ballot box gets stuffed after awhile but the support is greatly appreciated! I don’t beg for much but this is one I would like to have…please show your support (if you see fit) and hopefully EDGE can take home the crown! Tell your family (both the ones you like and don’t like) tell your friends, tell your enemies and tell neighbors to vote for EDGE Personal Training for the best personal Trainers in Western Washington. Thank you all for the last 4 ½ years and here’s to many more!

VOTE HERE!

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Colds and Workouts, what to do?

So it’s beginning to be cold and flu season again (I even have a touch of a cold right now so you know it’s bad) and this time of year always impacts people on a regular fitness routine. Here are some helpful hints and tips on what to do to once you become sick and if you should or shouldn’t work out;

(First and foremost, I’m not a doctor. I don’t even play one on TV. These are regurgitated guidelines from differing fitness certifications as well as my own personal/professional experience. Follow them as you would like!)

• If you already have “the crud” you need to know what kind is ok to work out with. The general rule of thumb is “if it’s in the head or chest, it’s best to rest” (and yes, I came up with that). Meaning, if you have congestion, don’t work out. Sinus pressure and chest congestion is a definite no-no for two reasons, 1. Your already splitting headache will become excruciatingly painful due to the pressure changes in your body during exercise (blood pressure changes, oxygen uptake, etc.) and 2. Your presumed inability to get a full breath coupled with all of the phlegm in your chest makes for some epic coughing fits.
• If you have a simple case of the sniffles and feel run down it is ok to work out, just very lightly. Your body feels like Hell because it is trying to fight off the bug it has contracted. The last thing it wants to do is to worry about repairing the breakdown of your muscles or fighting off the free radicals created by said breakdown. Not only that, you’re going to be wiped out  in general so fatigue will set in much faster than normal. I am just as crazy, (if not more) than most of you when it comes to working out consistently and I know that even missing one workout can make you feel like a slug (like I said, I have a touch of a bug right now and have missed 2 in a row, ugh) so do some light weights or light cardio and work up a good sweat.

Quick tips

• For the love of God, please do not go to a gym when you are sick. (At least my Studio, I will kick you out as some of you have found out) You’ll give everyone else there the same crap you have as well as being more susceptible to other germs due to your, already hard working yet,  compromised immune system.
• Eat more protein! No this is not the meathead in me talking, proteins help create antibodies (the germ fighters, lock and key theory, look it up) the more antibodies you have made, the quicker you kick the cold’s butt.
• Stay hydrated! Drink as much water and electrolytes drinks as you can. Try and stay away from sugary ones, but push the fluids to clear out your system. This will also help your body rid itself of sickness.
• Sleep, sleep, sleep. I am very guilty of not getting enough sleep ( I blame my Mom, I have her night owl-ness) but this is when your body does its best work.

There you go folks, fight off your colds and try and stay healthy. I still don’t feel well, I’m going home.

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltrianing.net

F* the Belly Burner

Alight, I’m going to go off the rails on a “fitness” product that drives me insane with its claims. For those of you who don’t stay up until 3 in the morning there is a product out the called the belly burner (I’m not going to capitalize it out of disrespect but click here to see the short commercial on it). It was “created” by this hack trainer to the stars, Bobby Waldron, and it designed to trim up your midsection if you wear it during your workout, or anything for that matter. There are 3 major things wrong with this product; 1) it is designed by a “trainer” (he apparently was a pretty good athlete in High School and College, but that doesn’t make him and educated trainer), 2) it only increases your thermal core temp because you wrap yourself up like a gordita. Core temp increase from the inside out and core temp increase from an extra layer of fabric are completely different. A fresh pizza resting on your stomach for 10 minutes would produce the same thermal image (and if you don’t eat it, the same caloric burn) and 3) He has Carlos Mencia as a spokesperson. One of the least original, or funny, comics in the history of America is who he has as a vouching voice? Yeesh…

If you ever get a chance to see the late night commercial now this, I want to punch Johnny Rocket right in his face. (c’mon?! Johnny Rocket? If you’re going to make up a name try and pick something not so…I can’t even say it…Just freaking stupid) that and if I hear “let’s get set to sweat!” one more freaking time I’m going to take a swing at Waldron too. I hate trainer clichés. I use them in jest because they are some of the most contrived, faux motivators. Bah…bottom line, save your $4 and buy something other than the belly burner, for the love of God…

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltrianing.net

I go nuts over coconuts (water that is…)

Recently I wrote about antioxidants and mass marketed “exotic” superfoods and how they usually don’t match their claims. (or that their claims can be met with much cheaper, American, foods [blueberries for example]) The news has found another culprit in the “fad foods” category…coconut water. Not the coconut water itself, but the companies that sell it in a box or bottle. Coconut water has gained popularity in recent years as a healthier alternative to sports drinks. With the rise in demand more and more companies have tried to jump on the bandwagon and just like they have done with Acai, they watered it down. (no pun intended). Of the 3 major brands that sell coconut water (ZICO Natural, ONE and Vita Coco) ConsumerLab.com found that only ZICO Natural was accurate in what they state for amounts of electrolytes (magnesium, potassium and sodium) and sugar. The other two were accurate in what they have for sodium and magnesium (the 2 main ones for hydration) were 82% and 35%, respectively, lower. Whoops…my favorite rebuttal of the report comes from Arthur Gallego, director of communications for Vita Coco. He couldn’t comment since they (Vita Coco) hadn’t reviewed the report yet. He did note that the company only uses the freshest coconuts from, (yup, you guessed it) Brazil and Southeast Asia.  These guys really know how to cover their bases don’t they?

Erik Hroncich, NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net

Get off your Butts and Kick some ass!

Last year I wrote about the dangers of sitting for too long (and kind of mocked it all in good fun, you can check it out here). It turns out that posting up on your posterior for extended periods of time can be increasing the risk of heart disease and type II diabetes. (obviously, not as funny as I originally thought…) Not only that, 30 minutes of activity a day may not be enough to combat the effects. Now that doesn’t mean to give up hope all together, hell, some kid in England just died from a pulmonary embolism after sitting and playing video games for too long (I know, what was he playing?! Check it out here) so the “forget it” method isn’t going to work either…Mark Tremblay, the Director of Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research at Children’s Hospital in Eastern Ontario Research Institute (seriously, how big are this guy’s business cards?) says “Being healthy is not just about increasing physical activity, but also decreasing inactivity, he said. People can take small steps in their daily lives to, well, take more steps”.  Horrible wit aside, the guy has a great point.

Years ago I had someone who busted his butt in here 3x a week and his results, while good, were not as great as they should have been. We sat down and went through a typical day for him and found out he was either sitting or lying for 22.5 hours a day. All but 1.5 hours this guy was on his butt, 2.5 when he was in here for the day. That is including pee breaks, water fill-ups, etc. We came up with a simple formula…for every hour you are not “active” you need to do 2 minutes of activity a day. 22.5 x 2 =45 minutes, simple. It worked too, small change that produced a big result…get off your butt and get moving!

Erik Hroncich. NSCA-CPT

www.edgepersonaltraining.net