In my last blog entry I gave some of my favorite suggestions when being interrogated…..er…..I mean asked about various fitness topics.  So I thought I would continue with that…..sorta. Here are some thoughts on mind set.  So on with the randomness. Health and fitness is very much a mind game.  For example,  let’s say I give you an exercise to do but I don’t count out loud.  … [Read more...]

What is it about certain songs, insane trainers, and competition that drives us to get those extra few repetitions in or run that extra mile even when we KNOW our bodies are on the verge of breaking down? I’m sure we’d all like to believe that we’ve been given some sort of magical power for the time being that allows us to house super human strength to push through.  But the reality of … [Read more...]

Drive or walk around your neighborhood every afternoon or on a weekend when its beautiful weather outside, chances are something in particular will stand out. No, it’s not the little old ladies working in their garden and its not Bubba outside washing his four-wheeler, it’s the absence of children playing outside. In this age of facebook, twitter, x box, Netflix and iPads kids are more … [Read more...]

Something interesting is happening in Arizona, well, to me at least. A bill has been proposed that would require advertisers to put a disclaimer on photos that have been altered or enhanced. I haven’t read the details of the proposed legislation, but this definitely interests me. The bigger issue is not false advertising, it is false perception, false reality, false expectations all based on … [Read more...]

Gotta love my job. Like doctors, lawyers and financial advisers, when people find out what I do they always have questions. Which can be a pretty cool thing in certain settings. So I thought I'd touch on a few of the most common things I get asked. OK first............the disclaimer. Most of this is just my opinion or what I have seen and has worked for me. Everyone is a bit different so it's … [Read more...]

Success has, like many things in this world, become diluted by media in how it is obtained.  It is far too often displayed as a “Point A to Point B” scheme that we must follow precisely to achieve what the world has deemed “successful.” Examples that come to mind are the late night TV ads that say,  “I was 400lbs! Now I weigh 160! SUCCESS!” without any additional verbal … [Read more...]

Feedback is a simple concept to grasp but can sometimes be a difficult behavior to put into practice. However, open communication, including feedback, from client to trainer is imperative to a healthy training environment and relationship. The American Heritage Dictionary defines the word as "The return of information about the result of a process or activity; an evaluative response." The … [Read more...]

Seriously?! No really I mean it. Are you seriously concerned about your health? I would assume so since you are reading a blog on a fitness website.  I’m not going to “guilt” you into anything and if it’s not something you can budget there is no reason to compromise your financial health.  But in regards to the later, I would challenge you to add up all the money you spend on … [Read more...]

  “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20     This is a favorite scripture of mine and it is very applicable to anyone who may question what the Bible says about how we should treat our bodies. As … [Read more...]

In order for you to succeed in just about anything nowadays requires some form of investment. For the most part there are 3 main ingredients that must go in for anything good to come out. Those three are the following in order of importance:   Money: We live in a world where money makes the world go round so it must play a role in your success. Naturally if you invest in stocks you … [Read more...]

Let’s talk about the posterior chain. Heard of it? The posterior chain is made up of all the muscles, tendons and ligaments that run down your backside. For the purpose of this blog, posterior chain refers to the muscles of the back, glutes, and hamstring specifically. They are given the name “posterior” because they run down your backside. These are the muscles that will make a pair of … [Read more...]

Turkey Day is quickly approaching!  So I chose a topic that has probably been addressed here but thought it was worth another look. One of the things that has the biggest impact on our quest to lose fat and gain muscle strength is insulin.  We’re all familiar with insulin.  Unfortunately it’s probably because we know of someone with diabetes or we’re scared of developing it … [Read more...]

If you’ve ever done any kind of recreational or competitive running you’ve heard of the term “Runner’s High.”  This “high” is thought to be a mystical experience where pain ceases to exist and you have developed a supernatural second wind to continue on at normal or an even more intense pace. The good news is that it really DOES exist and you don’t have to RUN to experience … [Read more...]

For this blog I want to share with you all what I ate to prepare for the Tri-Fitness challenge. This competition requires you to be in peak condition physically and aesthetically. I wanted to lose body fat while maintaining or increasing lean muscle tissue. Sound like a familiar goal? As far as working out, I increased from 4 to 5 days a week of training. The results I achieved were 80-90% about … [Read more...]

Hey, I'm Doug.......the new guy! So being the new guy and this being my first blog I thought I would introduce myself and touch on the significance of change. My bio will be posted on RTB's website soon so I won't bore you with too many details. I grew up in Brandon so I guess you could say I've really just returned home. What my bio I won't tell you is that I've moved here from Los Angeles … [Read more...]

Unless you live under a rock, Bruce Lee needs no introduction.  Some say he was one of the most genetically gifted people of our time, but the wise ones recognize it was a combination of genetics and a work ethic that would put ALL OF US to shame. Bruce Lee lived and breathed his passions and sought them without restraint.  There is a book, The Art of Expressing the Human Body, that has a … [Read more...]

Fitness professionals are constantly asked “what should I eat?” I love this question because it means the individual realizes that health & fitness is LARGELY based off what one puts in their body. Fueling your body for a workout & for life in general is a full-time process. Our biggest source of energy comes directly from the foods we eat. Food = Energy. The best way to … [Read more...]

The never ending repeat of those P90X informercials has inspired you to exercise once again. Jillian Michaels in your face attitude on “The Biggest Loser” has motivated you to get off the couch and get moving. You decided to join the gym, again, for the umpteenth time, in hopes of sticking with it long enough to validate the monthly dues.  Through all of this, you begin to ask yourself, … [Read more...]

In my lifetime, as short as it may be compared to most of my readers, I've have the wonderful privilege to work with many successful people.  Some are prestigious professors at state universities, while others are self-owned business millionaires, full-time bloggers, award winning chemists and nuclear engineers. I've also had the privilege to work with the opposite end of the spectrum, where … [Read more...]

Breathing is mindless right? Not necessarily. Continuous airflow through your lungs is crucial for healthy, effective exercise. During any exercise, it's important that you focus on always moving air in and out of your body efficiently. If you hold your breath, especially during intense exercise, your blood pressure spikes and intra-abdominal pressure increases. You could be putting yourself … [Read more...]

Summer is the perfect time to go outside and have fun.  It’s one of my favorite times of year because there are so many outdoor activities to choose from. Everything is more fun outside, whether you’re swimming, running or cycling. But the summer heat can be a problem if you’re not careful, particularly here in Mississippi with its extreme heat and humidity. Throughout my career as an … [Read more...]

One of the most over looked, brushed aside concepts in the art of exercise and nutrition is the glorious REST day.  As we get deeper into our training and see major changes in our body’s composition, we often get into this mindset that more MUST be better in terms of our exercising and cardio.  Unfortunately, this concept will almost always lead to the dreaded experience known as "Overtraining … [Read more...]

In life we make choices. Sometimes the decision can be easy with quick turnover and fast results. Oftentimes decisions are difficult. They can be life-altering and reaching our desired outcome can be a lengthy process. I want to talk about those type choices and the mindset we should keep when approaching such decisions. Many times in life we will be faced with the decision of accepting a … [Read more...]