Do we really need all the bells and whistles!!!??

I am sick and tired of hearing people complain about how "old" our equipment is at my local gym. Our equipment is not "old", it works perfectly fine. Just because it doesn't have a 40" plasma attached to it doesn't mean it isn't any good. People are forgetting the main reason we go to the gym. The main reason we go to the gym is to reach our fitness goals and transform our body to fit our likings. Does that require a plasma TV and a fancy machine that talks to you? No, all it requires is the proper equipment. A lat pull down machine is a lat pull down machine. If it was made in 2009 or 1909 it is still going to give you the same results. Just because you have the latest and greatest equipment doesn't mean you are going to get the results you want. In fact, in my opinion is iit is going to inhibit your results. For example, you go to the gym tomorrow to get a good cardio workout. Your object is to bust your ass for a period of time and burn some calories. If you have a TV sitting right in front of you with the New England Patriots on, are you really going to get the best possible workout? No, you are going to be more focused on how Tom Brady is doing. You go to the gym to get results not to watch TV, that is why you have a living room in your house. So, next time you go to the gym , ask youself something? I am going to be here for this amount of time, am I going to get everything out of this with the time that I have? Is a machine that was built in 2010 with all the bells and whistles, plasma TV and all going to get you the resutls? No, hard work, dedication, and persitance will get you the results you want!


Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu

Supplements Galore!

You go online or walk into a GNC or similar supplement store and you are bombarded by thousands of products. Most of these products are not only way over priced but a complete waste of money. Most of the products found in these stores will just go through your body and be urinated out and have no nutritional or "supplemental" benefit. Essentially, you are pissing away your money. Now, that is not to say that all supplements are bad and that no one should take supplements. However, MOST of the supplements sold in these stores are simply modified sugars and caffeine. The problem is, people still buy these products. Supplements are just like anything else, a business. The companies are going to do whatever it takes to sell there products and make them money. So they write things like muscle building, fat losing, energy boosting, faster reovery, vasodilation, and loose 100lbs in a week all over there bottles. The sad thing is, people read that and automatically believe it. So, the supplement company just won, becasue they made money of that person. That is all they care about.

Now, like I mentioned not all supplements are junk. Things like multivitamins, proteins, fish oil, fax seed, and even creatine are proven to be beneficial. That is not to say that everyone should go out and buy these supplements. In my opinion, if you are under the age of 18, you diet should only consist of whole foods, no supplements, unless there is a medical deficiency. Now, after the age of 18 you begin to add some supplements to your diet IF you have a good diet. Think about the word supplement. When you supplement something you complement it. So, if you don't have a good, well balanced diet, then don't even bother adding supplements. After you have perfected your diet you can then start adding things like whey protein, fish oil, flax seed, and creatine monohydrate.

Just remember, although supplements may say it on the bottle they are not instant body transformers. If you want to change your body you must have a well designed exercise program and more importantly a well rounded diet. If and when you have both of those you can then use certain supplements to your benefit.

If you have any questions about supplements, nutrition, or an exercise program feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

Best,

Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu

What a game!!!

Monday night I had the opportunity to see the Patriots open up there season at Gillette Stadium. It was one of the greatest games I have even been too. I have been to games from all the major Boston sports team, nothing topped this. The 4+ hour drive down and the 3 hour drive back was well worth the 3 hours of excitement. As Buffalo was up before the comeback, numerous fans began to leave. I can't imagine what they were thinking as they were sitting on Route 1 listening to the game as Brady completes the touchdown pass to Watson. By far, the best game I have ever been too.

I want to take this time to apologize for my lack of time spent on this blog recently. As the fall semester is underway and my hours at work have been increased, I simply have not had the extra time to get an entry in. This semester will be by far my most challenging semester yet, however, after December it should be relatively smooth sailing on the way to getting my degree. So, I will try to get an entry in about once a week but can't promise much. If you want a daily entry you can contact my physics professor and tell him to not give me so much homework.

If anyone is interested in a particular topic and would like me to elaborate on it and give my insight just shoot me an e-mail. The way college is run today, I am checking my e-mail every hour for assignments and updates so I will get it immediately.

Any questions, feel free to ask.

Best,

Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu

Program Design

Do you know what you are doing in the gym tomorrow? Next week? Next month? I do. I have eight weeks planned out ahead of what exercises, sets, and reps each and every workout. So many people simply decide what they are going to do at the gym on the drive over or as they are improperly warming up on the treadmill. They just do a list of random exercises with the all too common 3 sets of 8-12.They have no plan, no goals, no nothing.

In order to see good results you must have a solid program designed and written down on paper. Each workout, each week, and each month you should have goals you want to achieve. That is the only way you are going to see results. Picking some random exercises with no progression is not going to cut it.

If you have questions on program design don't hesitate to send me an e-mail.


Best,

Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu

The importance of a weight training recorder or journal

Do you remember exactly how much weight you lifted and for how many reps last week? How about last month? If you do know, then chances are you are keeping track of your workouts. If not, well start doing it! The only way to know you are improving in the weight room is if you are doing more repetitions with the same weight or you are pushing more weight. Yeah sure, you can guess and estimate if you are improving. However, the only true way to know that for sure is to keep a workout recorder. This can be a blank notebook or a typed our excel document. It is a matter of choice. The important thing is that you write each exercise you completed on that date and for how many sets and reps. That way the next time you complete that exercise you can look back and try to improve on your last performance. Doing this will help you achieve your goals quicker in the weight room!

Questions? Shoot me an e-mail!

Best,

Doug Spurling
dspurling@une.edu