I admit that I am ” stuck up” about fitness. Obsessed with perfect exercise form , and correct bio-mechanics , I am cautious of potential injuries and very protective of those that I instruct.  This superiority complex of mine is driven by my desire to teach and makes it difficult to find training partners . While progressing my students through new levels of exercise , I must also remember to challenge myself .

    Occasionally , performance clients turn into workout partners , and the student becomes the teacher .  At this level , I am happy to acknowledge mastery , and eager to learn new techniques from the trainee.  It is at the Black shirt level that participants are prepared  to develop and create their own programs , and programs for others .   

      All training cycles should have a start and ending point . More importantly there should be an objective .  Without focus , training programs become “working out ” , and what’s the point of that ?

        Combining , strength , stability , and flexibility , all while focusing on the task at hand can be quite the task . The same is true of teaching exercise to the masses while also expecting perfection . 

        A practitioner of Yoga , weight training , and running , Megan is also a Licensed Massage Therapist , assisting at Peak Physical Therapy  . Through her extensive knowledge of human anatomy , and muscle function , she is quickly able to assess and correct muscle imbalances during performance activities .  Having earned an Orange (Meta) , and Red (Performance ) , shirt previously , Megan went for the BLACK !!! 

Congratulations Megan !!!

    All professional athletes have an off season .

        Using a high performance race car as my metaphor , I tried to explain that even the most well oiled machine can break down .  That million dollar piece of equipment , though tuned , and battle tested is subject to the heat created by the engine , driver error , and of course general wear and tear .  The best case is when the problem can be fixed in the pit . ( 14 seconds is considered a good Nascar pit time )   What TV doesn’t show us is the painstaking hours that the mechanics put in during the non-track hours .  According to www.hendrickmotorsports.com  the engine maintenance on a Nascar vehicle costs about $28,000 per year .  That’s just over three grand per month ( 9 month season) on maintenance . Maintenance !!!

      Having missed the obvious cue that was a Dale Earnhardt T shirt , and matching hat , I had completely overshot my target and landed in a racing conversation from which there was no return .

       The bridge that should have led to talk of ACL tears , low back pain , and eventually overuse injuries , had instead earned me a lesson on the Sprint Cup series .

       My hope was to have this soccer dad understand that athletics , just like auto racing requires prep time . While stretching , taping , and bracing are great pit adjustments , maintenance of the athletic machine sometimes requires a trip to the garage for a rebuild .  I imagined that I would see a light bulb appear above his head as I explained that ignoring the pit crews suggestions could easily lead to bad form and the need for major repairs , sometimes even surgery .  Not wanting to scare him , I might whisper when I draw the parallel between terrible crashes , and career ending hip injuries .  Let’s face it , I can paint a picture .

    Having succeeded in creating a friend ( Nascar fans are a friendly bunch) , I began searching for another chance to make my point . Within weeks I was invited to watch the infamous Indy 5oo and left pondering the appropriate thank you gift for the parent of  a youth client . Books are always welcomed gifts for information junkies , especially when they are based on facts . 

   With over se injuries accounting for 80% of my workload , I am constantly trying to get kids ( adults as well ) to appreciate the importance of proper technique ,  diligence in  maintenance , and most importantly , ADEQUATE REST !!! 

       With out comparing Gatorade to Pennzoil , or likening Muscle-Milk to Jet Fuel , this weeks featured author highlights the premise on which the NeuroMeta Performance System  was created .  Along with being full of useful programs , ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT , by Vern Gambetta is a must read for all parents of year round or multi sport athletes .

  Oh YEAH !!!! Week 11 and we are down another 5 pounds . Eric is such an inspiration.

    The first  6 weeks of Neuro training , we have established correct bio mechanics , and have begun the task of converting that into fitness. The last five weeks have proven that weight loss is possible with discipline and dedication . By concentrating on form , we have been able to drop Eric’s weight while avoiding injury and plateaus.

    With his new confidence and lighter body , our model will soon begin his first Metabolic training phase .  *** NEURO first , then Metabolic , and THEN Performance***, that’s the System .  Because his body now functions correctly , any standard workout program should be effective . The metabolic workout , which will include walking , swimming , and boxing training will be a Functional Core Fitness program , that I designed several years ago .

       The main focus of Eric’s next phase of training is to make use of the muscle function and memory that we created during the Neuro training. Good mechanics are neccessary in order to avoid injury during extended metabolic work .

   3 months of Meta training is on the way !!! Keep up the hard work ERIC !!!  26 pounds in 11 weeks , GREAT JOB !  Only 174 lbs. to go .