Archive for: sports training
Concussions and Brain Damage: What do the Military and NFL Have in Common?
One thing that the NFL and the military have, besides “love of the game” is the potential for brain trauma. This is certainly not the pretty side of military service, or of playing football, but it happens none-the-less.
The good news is that because of the budgets, resources, research, science, and investment in gear (and sharing of knowledge) by both industries, soldiers and players may get the tools and care they need to keep healthy long after they hang up their uniforms.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at the issues from the standpoint of the NFL because what we are seeing in the sports arena is spilling onto the battlefield and vice-versa.
Competitive Sports Military Training: Can Cross Training Improve your Skills?
Competitive sports training whether it’s on a military sports team or for recreation requires ability and skill. Some argue that skills can be learned; but, ability is something more innate.
This may or may not be true. After all, there are plenty of zero to hero stories out there that tell how someone with little skill or ability was able to overcome the odds and win an event as a results of their desire and passion.
There is no doubt that cross training can build muscle and endurance. But does that transfer to making you better at your sport? In fact, some studies suggest that training programs like the use of weighted objects (such as wearing a weighted vest when you run to make you run faster once the vest is removed) actually do little more than provide the perception that you’re running faster once you’re lighter.
The Top 2 Fitness Concerns: Keeping it Simple
Every person has health concerns.
What concerns you most is going to depend on your current level of fitness, your personal goals, your family history, and all those vanity and virility issues that we obsess over.
So what did our readers say when we asked them: What are your top fitness concerns?
Being Too Big: Avoiding a Bodybuilder Heart Attack
Can you ever be too much?
Too fast, too big, too intense, too focused? The being too big bodybuilder heart attack debate is always brewing in the gym and in the lab. Some people wonder if it’s healthy, others wonder how they can get the same results.
However, when a bodybuilder or fitness enthusiast dies a few months after suffering from a massive heart attack…people start to wonder if all the muscle building is worth it.
Finally! Proof that Soldier ARE Athletes
Before Columbus, the world was flat. But that crazy Italian just didn’t buy it. He went against “common” knowledge of his day and sailed unchartered waters…literally!
Well, just like any solid idea it sometimes takes a little bit of time for “common” knowledge to be overturned and then for it to rock established guidelines. It seems like the value of sports training being embraced by our military. In a recent news article it was reported that Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Madigan Healthcare System have begun setting up a clinic that will enhance the care of soldiers.
Swimming Intervals and Open Water Training
Running and swimming are great for cardiovascular improvement when training for the Navy Seals. We’ve talked in previous articles about the benefits of running so in this article we’re going to cover swim training with intervals.
Since you’re goal is to be prepared for duties as a Navy Seal then you want to create a fitness training program that uses the principle of “specificity of training.” This is just a fancy way to say workout and practice doing what you will actually be doing on the job. And when you’re training for the Navy Seals, you’ve got to swim.
Overtraining? Pissed Off? Military and Personal Sports Training Gone Wrong
Are you getting ready for military bootcamp? Navy Seal Buds Training? Or an endurance event like the Marine Marathon or Ironman event? Or are you simply trying to stay in shape so when you strap on that Kevlar vest you know you’re ready for anything that comes your way?
In any case, guys that try too hard, too fast with their personal sports training programs can end up tired, fatigued, burnt out, and actually have trouble concentrating when it matters the most.
These are just some of the signs that you might be overtraining.
Speed Training Programs for a Better Personal Best
Sports training involves various conditioning methods like a speed training program, endurance training, or strength training. Each
has a purpose based on the desired outcome.
You might have an upcoming sports event or want to stay fit for military, special ops, or Seal training. Or, you might be training for an event such as the Marine Marathon and you want to learn how to run faster.
The A’s of April: Attitude
Tysen Ober is a 23 year old soldier who recently returned from an overseas deployment to Kuwait. With no job, no school, and no relationship awaiting his return, Tysen knew this was his moment to do something big. And boy is it big! Tysen will be running 3,500 miles from California to Maine to raise money for wounded warriors. His hope is to inspire others to “get out, get active and get involved in giving back to this country.” His drive and vision inspired me to talk about how far we can all go with the right attitude (see the bottom of this article for ways to support Tysen’s quest).
The A’s of April: Acupuncture
With four rambunctious children in the house, my parents always found creative ways to burn off our endless energy/wear us down in the evening. One of my favorite memories was going to the old fashioned drive-in movie theatre in town possibly because it was the only time we were allowed to dress in our pajamas in public! We cuddled under blankets and watched The Jungle Book. Big old Baloo was my favorite character, a lumbering bear who didn’t have a care in the world and yet was full of wisdom for a wide-eyed jungle boy named Mowgli. One thing for sure about Baloo was his ability to enjoy the “simple bare necessities of life” from back scratches on the bark of a tree to picking “a pawpaw or a prickly pear.” Maybe Baloo was onto something - the right prick can be painless and may just heal what ails you…”You better believe it baby.”
This Aint no 9–5 Gig: Sleep Deprivation and Shift Work
Being a soldier is not a 9–5 job. Especially in combat. You don’t clock in after your morning cup of joe, or clock out when the factory whistle blows. Being a soldier has its perks, and you can have a deep sense of satisfaction and personal enjoyment for what you do.
It’s just that soldiers don’t work normal shifts…and the effects of sleep deprivation on your body can negatively affect your work unless you strengthen your system with the right fitness and best dietary supplement routine.
You need the nutrients that will help handle sleep deprivation and extreme conditions and still have peak performance in everything you do. For some, odd shifts may be temporary as in military training; other times it will continue for an extended period. Know how to keep your rhythm in check and keep healthy.
When a Marine Becomes a Marine: Marines Hell Week
At what point do you make the transformation from civilian to Marine?
For some men it’s going through the Marines Hell Week (its unofficial name). It’s that moment when you climb “the Reaper.”
As one recent graduate commented, “When you get to the top, you’re basically a Marine…”
And getting to the top, instead of having to ring out is the main challenge during the Marines Hell week. After all, many go into the Military service with the hope that their lives will mean something…they will make a difference.
And some join the Marines out of spite. As one veteran said, “My father, a U.S. Army vet, told me to join any branch of the armed forces except the Marines. Thus I joined the Marines.”
Others out of pride when their dad says, “Remember, you are representing the family.”
And still others, such as DeContee Socree who grew up in the war-torn country of Liberia, join because of what they saw, “Because of the help the Marines gave to my people, I decided to join the Marine Corps.”
Those who survive the Marines Hell Week become part of a family that is larger than yourself. A family that leaves no man behind.
The Crucible is the test. The Eagle Globe and Anchor is the emblem that is earned, not given, by the men and women who take on the mental and physical challenges of military training.
Easy Weight Loss with the Right Cardio Training
If you’ve put on a few pounds since bootcamp and want an easy way to lose weight, then this is perfect for you. If you’ve got something coming up, a sports event, a fitness test, a class reunion, or beach vacation where that gut you’ve been sucking in will be unleashed (or unbuckled), then this is for you too.
Losing weight doesn’t have to be a losing battle. And as they say, starting is the hardest part. Sure, some people say sticking with it is harder, but when you see results and you feel those results, then sticking with the workout plan becomes very easy…and we’re going to talk about how to easily burn those calories, lose the fat, and get in better shape in just weeks.
Fact: Better Soldiers Have Less Body Fat
According to scientists at the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory of the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition of the University of Pittsburgh less body fat improves physical and physiological performance in army soldiers.
According to results of this study soldiers meeting the Department of Defense (DoD) body fat standard and those exceeding the standard were subjected to a Wingate cycle protocol to test anaerobic power and capacity, an incremental treadmill maximal oxygen uptake test for aerobic capacity, isokinetic tests for knee flexion/extension and shoulder internal/external rotation strength, and the Army Physical Fitness Test.
Results showed that group 1 performed significantly better on 7 of the 10 fitness tests. In Soldiers with similar amounts of FFM, Soldiers with less body fat had improved aerobic and anaerobic capacity and increased muscular strength.
Warriors are Elite Athletes: Train Like One!
“The warfighter is an elite athlete, it is time that training approaches that are scientifically based are updated within the military to match the functional demands of modern warfare…”
This was the observation in an abstract published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health as they talked about strength training for the warfighter.
Military Fitness Training and tests like the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) or “PT Test” and the PFT (Physical Fitness Training) are going to make a leap into the 21st century…finally! Beginning last year, studies in select areas began for the use of updated testing criteria through the Army Physical Readiness Test (APRT) and Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT).
The idea behind these changes is that soldiers will be better prepared physically if they train how they fight.
Strength Diet Tips: What to Include, What to Eliminate
What does your strength diet look like? Protein, carbs and good fats, right? Seems simple. Most people know that to build muscle they need protein to support growth. So the logical conclusion is to eat more protein. They want endurance, they eat more carbs.
So what’s on your plate to build strength?
Meat, glorious meat…or a good mix of veggies and legumes will give you enough complete proteins to achieve your goal. And “common knowledge” tells us that pasta will give us the carbs.
ps….yes, you can get carbs for other sources too…
But how can you explain less –than-stellar-fitness even though you’re doing all that? Why are you not getting the performance results that you really want?
Adding Flex to your Gym Military Training Program
Most gym training programs look like this: pre-workout drink, a little bit of a warm up on the bike or treadmill, hit the weights, work up a sweat, and then head home for a post-workout meal including protein, glutamine, BCAA, and the best dietary supplements to enhance the work you just put in.
You feel good, your muscles are pumped and all in all it’s a good day at the “office”, right?
Wrong!
What’s missing from this otherwise normal military gym training routine is stretching. Face it, we all have an urge to just skip this part of the workout. After an intense workout, slowing down to stretch can seem a little anti-climactic.
But your flexibility has more benefits than the low amount of exertion suggests.
CTE: Can Dietary Supplements Prevent or Slow the Effects of Brain Damage?
Playing a game you love or serving your country with pride can put you in danger of physical injury. You know that going in, right? We do our best to protect ourselves from preventable injuries by wearing armour and helmets. But what about the fall out to our brains from head traumas that cannot be totally avoided?
In sports it’s repeated blows to the head most often associated with football players and boxers; for soldiers it’s the unexpected IUD or other blasts from the field of combat. Sure the helmets will protect you from shrapnel, but what protects you from the initial shock wave and secondary “blast wind” of an IUD?
Eating Sugar to Build Muscle?
Not everyone agrees that you can get everything you need to build muscle before, during and after military training simply by eating regular food. But most people would think that you lost your mind if you suggested that sugar is a great way to build muscle.
But did you know that an early study revealed that sugar in its raw, natural state contains chromium?
Yes…chromium! I know that you’ve heard of the “magic” of chromium picolinate to build lean muscle mass. And while there is some evidence that it works, the question is whether or not you should be taking a dietary supplement that contains chromium to give you the best results when you’re training for a military sport, getting ready for bootcamp, or just want to stay fit.
Blood-Doping for Military Sports and Training?
With all the news about Lance Armstrong and his admission to using banned substances to enhance performance and endurance, there is a risk that he is indirectly endorsing these substances. Afterall, they must work if he won 7 Tour de France titles!
Some will believe that if they don’t resort to “illegal” methods of training then they have no hope of winning. They will be mentally defeated before even stepping foot onto the field. Others will believe that the only way they can win is by breaking the rules and possibly “risk it at all costs…” as Armstrong admitted to being driven to do.
Still others will become cynical and automatically assume that extraordinary sports performance is the result of blood-doping, blood transfusions, EPO and testosterone injections or other banned practices.
They will quickly forget the hours of training, the sports and nutritional science, the safe, non-doping dietary supplements used, and the genetic benefits of the champion.
