Posts Tagged ‘composition’

Body Fat By Pictures – No Holds Barred!


04 Sep

Well you ask for it, you got it!

Today I sent out my newsletter to all my readers for submission of pictures for analyzing body fat levels. That is just one of many perks of being a subscriber. If not one, but still want to be involved, I am going to personally mail you the address to send pictures if you sign up today.

For those of you who may not be aware, or just stopping by for the first time, please allow me to update you.

On the 21st I released a video discussing body fat percentage, how to measure it, and used some visual references to explain. It was fun and overall people really enjoyed it. You can find it here http://avidityfitness.net/2008/08/21/body-fat-percentage-how-correct-do-you-calculate/.

Through various emails, comments, and posts some expressed a desire to have their own body fat analyzed through the Leigh Peele fat tester (catchy name pending). Yes, you the reader are going to submit your half naked picture via email for me to look at and critique. There will be tears, laughter, and perhaps inspiration to accept or improve body composition on a whole new level.

I look forward to getting to know some of you on a more…scary level. Sign up today (right side bar) and you can still receive information. Otherwise I hope those of you on my list own up and deliver the goods. I can’t wait to see what I get!

Requirements:

  • Male and Females dressed in as little clothing as possible (though please don’t flash me, I am delicate). Shorts for guys and Bikini or Sports Bra and Underwear for ladies will do.
  • I need front, back, and side pictures.
  • You can block out your face but try to leave your jaw line area if possible.
  • Include your Height, weight, age, and your body fat percentage (even if a guess)
  • Please just put pictures and stat information. I am not judging you, you do not have to put why you are fat/lean nor will I be persuaded to tell a lower/higher number.
  • If you don’t want your name mentioned on the video sign with a “pen” name like Rex or Chiquita.

Mike Robertson-Self Myofascial Release (aka-He gave away a whole freaking ebook)


01 Sep

(Note: This was not the scheduled blog today )

I currently at least five different emails. I want to break them down for you so that you can understand me on a level you may not want to because I am a dork.

Email #1-My First REAL email. I call it my first real email because after 3 other failed emails I finally understood what spam was, how not to get it to come to my email, and how to use email wisely. Still use it once in a while.

Email #2-My “personal stuff” only email. My other email was becoming more business like, shipping stuff, ebay, you know, technical email. So I decided to have a personal email, for important things like, you know, myspace.

Email #3-My spam email. This was email that I used specifically for things that I wanted to get in email but I didn’t want to have to look at all the time. I deemed it my newsletter/information email. Kind of like pre-RSS feed. I still use it to this day for most newsletters.

Email #4 and #5 are “business” emails that have basically replaced my other emails. While I still use my other emails, these are my primary emails. I hold these emails in high regard. I keep them to clients and customer service information. I also have some personal email come through there so I can get to it fast, faster than my others.

You might be asking at this point, “What the hell are you talking about?”

Well I am going to be honest and say that even guys I like and respect I put in the spam email. There are only a small amount of people that I sign up to their newsletters or emails and have them sent to my main mailing address. It isn’t personal, it is just I get a LOT of email everyday and sometimes I just can’t handle more, even of things I want.

Well I took this weekend to play catch up on some newsletters and lucky for me the first one was Mike Robertson’s newsletter. Understand by the way this isn’t selling you anything, there is no affiliate link coming. I don’t even have one for Mike because it is “Shopping Cart” and I am too lazy to set it up. This isn’t really about fat loss either, although it IS body composition/posture/rehab and that is really important. No basically this is just giving props to a guy who practically wrote and gave away an entire manual of such valuable, free, and solid information to his newsletter list that it has inspired me to make him a exception to my rule.

I have no idea if this is for his list only, one time only thing, or what. I have no idea if this is available elsewhere, if he is linking to it or not. Maybe if you sign up and bug him, he will give it to you if you missed it, I don’t know. All I know is that a comprehensive and well written manual on SMR popped up in my inbox, for free, and my first thought was “I am a jackass, this guy is too good to be in your “spam” email section.”

Well Mike Robertson, you have been moved to better quarters my man. Great manual.

If looking to sign up for his newsletter you can go to his blog and check it out on the right hand side.

http://robertsontrainingsystems.blogspot.com/

Dear Fat Loss, You Suck…


28 Jul

Sometimes we just can’t see the things we should until they are staring at us directly in the face.

Using a mental mirror or self-reflection is an activity I have my clients do sometimes. It can help them see their mistakes, denial, roadblocks, positives, negatives, etc., that otherwise wouldn’t be visible to them. I don’t do this with just fat loss either. I expand this to anything in life and invite you to use it for work goals, love life, etc. The key is to be as honest as you can in a letter to yourself, to make each letter stick to that topic, and to not hold back, at all, about anything. You need to talk to this letter as if you are confessing the problem, not explaining it.

Since this is a fat loss blog I want your first letter to be about your body composition, your fat loss, your training, etc. This is what your letter should ask and answer…

  • When did you start trying to lose fat?
  • Why did you start trying to lose fat?
  • What have you tried?
  • Did it work?
  • What has worked best for you?
  • What hasn’t worked best for you?
  • What keeps you trying?
  • What makes you fail?
  • Who and what do you blame?
  • What have you accomplished?
  • What is your ultimate dream?

Now don’t read the rest of this until you have written that letter.

Go away.

Seriously, you’re pissing me off.

Now read your letter to yourself and circle the areas of achievement.

Circle the times you lost weight.
Circle the times you were proud of your training.
Circle your dream you want to work towards.

Now are you doing those things?

Are you using your strengths?

If taking extra walks in the day and counting points worked for you then do it! Just learn this time WHY it worked for you so you don’t veer off track again.

If training body part splits and eating chicken and almonds everyday worked for you then do it! Just learn this time WHY so you aren’t just “getting lucky” with losing the fat.

Most of the time the answer is right there, you’re just mentally blocking yourself from seeing it. If you need a guide to help get past the blockage then what are you waiting for? X marks the spot.

What is the measure of good health? What does healthy really mean?


26 Jun

Question: When it comes to fat loss and ultimately your health what would you say is the best measurement/check/value over and above the rest that determines the make up of a person and their ability to lose weight and their overall heath. e.g blood glucose levels, one or more hormones, BMI, % bodyfat.

I saw a recent article on this but can’t now find it. It could have been on your website but I don’t know for a fact.

Thanks

Mike

Answer: I like this question, Mike, because you didn’t just mention body composition as a sign of good health but the value of blood levels and hormones.

I hear a lot of people say “Well, I’m overweight but my levels are good so I don’t see a problem.” OR some people say that they’re healthy just because they’re “skinny”. Who is right, what are the factors?

Here are three things that I take into account when determining where you land on a healthy scale. Think of it as a Health “Credit Score” if you will:

1-Blood Work-

You can be as lean as all but if your hormones and levels are all out of whack that isn’t exactly the picture of health. Have you ever seen footage of starving people in other countries? I don’t think they really care about the BMI chart, do you? That doesn’t mean that this is a ticket to be obese. I’m just saying being skinny isn’t a ticket to the good life either.

Every 6 months you should get a full check up and blood work done. I’m not just talking about the standard cholesterol test either. There is so much a GOOD blood check up can tell you about where you are with your health. Male or Female get a full sexual hormone panel, thyroid, electrolytes, lipids, glucose - the works. Look at everything and if you don’t know what it means then there are plenty of online resources that can help explain it. I have to say, the Metabolic Repair is a good place to tune up on that.

2-Joint/Bone Health-

Animals aren’t the only species whose lives are cut short by bad bone and joint health. The frustrating thing is that the majority of bone and joint problems are completely preventable. And a lot of them are reversible or highly treatable with a little effort and focus on proper training and nutrition.

This is where being leaner and carrying less body fat does play a huge role: for every 10 pounds overweight (starting above 20% men, 25% women) that is added stress to the body and in particular, the joints. The more added weight stress means more pain, more physical stress, less function, and the start of bigger problems.

A good place to look at taking your movement to that next level is Mike Robertson and Eric Cressey’s Magnificent Mobility. It’s a nice, simple start. And if you’re wanting to take it further then let me know. I may not have more recommendations, but I find a video makes things easier for a lot of people.

3-Strength-

Now I am not talking about the ability to bench press a VW Bug. Still, having physical weakness usually means that you either aren’t working hard enough to keep your body functioning on a optimal level or that something is wrong, physically-speaking.

How many sick people do you know who can get in a lot of workout? Why do we think it’s so amazing that Armstrong achieves what he does recovering from the illness he has? Because in sickness we are weak.

Also this isn’t just physical strength, mental strength counts as well. Strength of the mind, feeling happy and good, and having a positive outlook affects our performance. All these things stand for being healthy and happy.

I would recommend Mark Ripptoe’s Starting Strength if you’re really wanting to get serious on a lifting front, but remember strong doesn’t always have to be lifting weights, but it’s just good education anyway.

 

So that is my top three. If you nail all of these then you’re in pretty good shape. If not then get started!

The Fat Loss Troubleshooter – Leigh Peele

Common Sense Meets Advanced Knowledge