kdeligia's blog

Nothing is gained from doing an exercise with out full range of motion. The only thing that you are doing is stunting your performance. Doing crunches (while they burn like hell) don't really improve your abdominal performance. Try knees to elbows instead, or even better, hanging toes to fingers.

I think it is hilarious when people do curls (a useless exercise) and they do 21's. The first seven are only done half way up, then 7 are done from the top to half way, then 7 are done full range. If you have ever just done 21 straight curls, full range, its just as difficult. There is NO point in the isolation of one of the bicep muscles. You will never use just one of them.

Some general fitness tips for people who are just getting into working out. This goes for girls and guys.

Try to work out outside as much as possible.

Don't ever use machines. Always use free weights. Free weights increase balance, build stabilizers and give you more functional fitness.

Don't use the elliptical. What are you a total pansy? Give me a break. Ellipticals lower impact but increase stress due to awkwardly manipulating your gait. Run - the way every human in history did before you.

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The mirror doesn't lie

Are you fat? Guess who's fault that is.

Don't have that 6-pack you want? Guess why.

After this holiday season, I just can't take it. BLAME YOURSELF. No one else.

"Everything you do in life, I don't care, good or bad--don't blame God, don't blame the devil, don't blame me, blame you. You control everything! The thoughts you think, the words you utter, the foods you eat, the exercise you do. Everything is controlled by you."
- Jack Lalanne.

Here are some excuses I have heard that make me laugh:

Maximizing the Ratio

An athlete's strength to weight ratio is one of his most important physical attributes. Remember, that strength does not just mean slow strength, but explosive strength (other wise known as power). Many guys are afraid of weighing to little. They want to be bigger and stronger. Well, being lighter and stronger is actually a better solution.

A must have for fitness

Hard work is different from intensity. Many people mistake the two. A much bigger issue is people mistaking doing work for working hard. They think "I am in the gym, so I am working hard". There is a tremendous difference between being in the gym and working hard. When it is written or read it seems very obvious, but in reality many people cannot distinguish the two.

More Complex Than it Seems

This is not my specialty. It is an area of difficulty for me for a number of reasons. The main reason is that apparently nothing is good for you. Well, no diet plan is good for you anyways. But here are some thoughts and resources...

The 10 aspects of overall fitness

In NO particular order (SOME exercises used to address them included)

Power - is related to strength in that it is measured in terms of force over time. It is the rate at which work is performed.
Exercises: Snatch, Clean, Jerk

Strength - the ability to generate or apply force.
Exercises: Bench, Squat, Deadlift, Shoulder Press

Where the chain breaks

Most people do not like to expose their weaknesses. Instead, they work around them. This is the worst thing that can be done. If there is a weakness, you must attack it. This should be done progressively and intelligently.

Everyone has heard the expression "The chain is only as strong as its weakest link". This is very true. Same goes for people. If you have great strength, but it is machine assisted, or you wear hand wraps or anything like that, it is degraded to uselessness.

Slow Twitch Muscles are not Stronger Muscles

Recently a club has opened up calling themselves "Slow-Twitch". They advocate pure strength training, with no other facets of fitness being addressed. I cannot even consider this "power lifting". They claim to be "strong men", but if you have ever seen a strong man competition, those guys are much, much more well rounded.

Largely Immoral? Or Immorally Large?

Fat people are so numerous that they have become the norm. I am considered a "freak" because I train hard and try to eat healthy. I look the way a normal human looks. I am not huge, I am physically fit, ready and able to tackle physical obstacles, run from attackers, and fight if need be. Apparently, having the normal physical traits of almost every animal on the entire planet is weird.