Girls against boys
Been getting the link to this story from a few readers.
14-year-old high school wrestler Cassy Herkelman became one of the first two girls to ever qualify for the Iowa state high school wrestling tournament. One of her first opponents, Joel Northrup, a self-described deeply religious student in Herkelman’s 112-lb weight class, defaulted rather than fight her. Herkelman later lost her next two matches…
Stress nom nom nom
We can understand overweight/obesity (along with a host of disordered eating behaviours that don’t necessarily result in excess body fat, but are still not healthy food relationships) as the consequence of a coping mechanism. Humans and many animals use food and eating in some way to deal with pain, discomfort, and distress.
The coping mechanism operates through several pathways, but basically you can understand eating behaviour as a potential mode of self-medication and self-soothing. Here’s a recent article from Neuropsychopharmacology about one of the ways in which this can occur…
Fuck Supplements: The Vitamin D edition
Vitamin D is a particularly interesting debate, as it is a substance that is not widely available in food. We evolved to get the bulk of D from the sun, not food. Vitamin D status has been shown to be an important factor in chronic disease. Many of us live in climates where there is not year-round optimal sun.
It’s a conundrum. So what to do?
My Date With Charles Staley
Oh, that dreamy Charles Staley. A girl could talk posterior chain activation with him all night.
I’m currently in the middle of a desert, in a city that (from an environmental point of view) probably shouldn’t exist (no, not Vegas, but that’s another good candidate), to train and get my ass beat down by one of the most awesome strength coaches in the US. I am squeeing inside like a crazy fangirl…
Stumptuous Eats book update
So, for those of you who have been wondering Where the hell is that book that Krista said she would write? the answer is I’m working on it. 2011 is full speed ahead on what’s been informally titled Stumptuous Eats. Eventually, I will be moving book-related thoughts and excerpts to a new blog, so stay tuned and know it’s in process!
I’m quite excited about this book — it encapsulates everything I want to communicate to people about what it means to eat well, and several years of insight from coaching hundreds of clients from athletes to “real people”. It also captures everything I’ve felt and experienced through my own food journeys.
Plus there are fart jokes.
Stay tuned, gentle readers.
Why Do You Lift? The Snow Day Edition
I lift to deal with life. I lift to deal with the fact that I have to go out and shovel a big pile of white shit in the cold without my spine going sproing or my arteries going gloop. I lift because I can care for others — my back is powerful enough to clear the snow for myself, and for my two elderly neighbours.
I lift because it reduces my chances of being trapped or falling. I lift because it girds my bones and my mind for battle.
But I don’t lift because of fear, or because the world is a mean place — I lift because of joy and the way it makes my body thrum with an achey aliveness.
And should the heavens see fit to vomit meteorological bullshit all over me, as they are doing today, I can clamp a figurative cigar in my mandible and snort, Is that the best ya got?
The Six BJJ Supplements that Really Work
Stephan Kesting of Grapplearts asked my opinion on what sports supplements are helpful for grapplers. Here’s my response. I also loved his caveats: in large part, supplements will not boost your athletic game. If you want to get better at grappling — or any sport — practice. Nothing replaces hard work and smart training. Yep, it’s a boring reality, but it’s true.
By the way, in case you’re concerned about vitamin D toxicity, in adults, toxicity results from supplementing something like 50,000 IU/day for several months. Possible in theory, but takes effort. 🙂
Also, to get doses of fish oil (not fish LIVER oil) that high, take liquid. No, it doesn’t taste that bad. Stop being a baby! We’ve given that dose to literally thousands of clients at PN, completely safely and with lots of positive effects. Butch up and get out that spoon.
Cassandra Forsythe on exercise and pregnancy
The lovely and talented Cassandra Forsythe has been running a series of articles on fitness during pregnancy. A PhD in Exercise Science and Nutrition who taught boot camps with a belly… now that is advice worth listening to!
Shaky man’s holiday message
A holiday update from Shaky Man. (Scroll down to Dec 2010.) Intense exercise wins again.