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PHENOMENAL EVENT: Chicago Golden Gloves Championship

admin — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:16:01 +0000

Written by: Phenomenal Fitness

On March 21, 2013, Sean Armstead, co-owner of Phenomenal Fitness, participated in the Chicago Golden Gloves boxing tournament, which is considered the most popular event in amateur boxing. He fought a tough competitor in the semi-finals for the Master Men’s division.

Sean will move on to the championship next week. The final bouts will be April 11th, 12th, and 13^th at the Cicero Stadium, 1909 S Laramie, Chicago, Illinois, and start at 7:30pm. We will follow-up more details on estimated day and times. Tickets are available for general admission ($20), main floor ($35) and ringside ($50). Come out and support a ‘phenomenal’ athlete.

De-Aging by Developing Structural Integrity: The “Phenomenal Difference”

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:29:02 +0000

Weight loss is the most common goal clients of all ages present as a desired training outcome. While excess body fat does impose potentially significant metabolic and mechanical stress on organs, joints and connective tissues, when it comes to goal-specific training, many people need to rethink their focus and emphasize the development of structural integrity, especially as they age.

Structural integrity consists of appropriate body posture, alignment, and joint position. Training with a structural integrity focus develops muscle balance in and about the joints, which differs from the standard American approach to fitness, which often focuses on individual parts (core training, upper body, etc). The standard approach to training directly contradicts our bodies’ integrated, multi-directional functioning, while training with a focus on building structural integrity is directly aligned with the body’s integrated functionality.

Our body is connected in ways you might not imagine: The big toe is intimately connected to the hip; hip function has a direct bearing on the low back; the low back is linked to the shoulder via the thoracic spine. It follows, therefore, that because of the integrated nature of our bodies, when we have discomfort in one area, often the tissue that is inflamed is not the cause, but a symptom of something else not operating properly. Additionally, the methods that are used to correct the problem are frequently not as effective as possible; and traditional training methodologies that ignore the integrative nature of the body may create greater risk for injury.

For example, if a muscle that attaches to your shoulder blade (scapula) and spine (thoracic spine) fails to function properly due to sitting in a chair for long durations of time at work, those muscles can adversely alter shoulder function. As progressive demands are placed on the shoulder resulting from your fitness training program, the shoulder is at a greater risk of being injured; and you cannot perform common movements that you once took for granted. Postures, daily activities and repetitive movements (for example, using a mouse with the same hand), all of which impact structural integrity, are important factors to consider when developing a training program for clients of any age.

In addition to daily activities (or lack thereof) that impact structural integrity, the physical changes that occur during the “aging process” also can cause structural integrity to decline. Muscles, skin, ligaments, tendons and other tissues that contribute to joint stability and mobility become less elastic and tend to be less hydrated. Additionally, muscles have reduced force production and mass, which contributes to bones becoming less dense and more brittle. Given the integrated nature of body function, developing and maintaining structural integrity is essential to counteract the common occurrences of aging.

Training with a structural integrity focus, necessary to counter-act or “de-age” the body means building fitness from the inside-out. For example, in order to maintain a healthy joint area, particularly as the body ages, the muscles and tissue that support and allow joint movement (i.e. rotator cuff muscles/inner unit) are developed before the muscles that make a joint move (i.e. deltoid and lat muscles/outer unit). This “inside-out” approach, along with proper posture (sitting and standing,) enhances structural integrity, which is a key element to “de-age” the body.

“De-Aging”, in addition to weight loss, should be a primary objective for every person embarking on a fitness program. Posture, alignment and joint position are the most enduring physical components that affect joint function and ultimately unable us to achieve our desired outcomes for activity and fitness.

De-Aging by Developing Structural Integrity: The "Phenomenal Difference"

admin — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 18:29:02 +0000

Overfed and Undernourished

admin — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 11:36:11 +0000

Poor health (person in dis-eased state) and de-conditioned state (low stamina, low muscle strength, low energy) are very common within our society, particularly for people living in urban environments. During the period of the “hunter-gatherer” man’s plight was a very physical one. Looking back at periods thereafter, man had to physically wrestle and break down the soil and plant food as well as tend to the livestock. The industrial period pitted man against mechanical machine to get work done. Still life had a lot to do with physical labor. Our food sources where still very fresh and wholesome as recent as the 1960’s.

That brings us to the high-tech era of today, where we tend to sit at a desk in order to earn a living. Food Manufacturing is a Trillion dollar industry. That means there is little focus on nourishment of the body. Food availability is based more on convenience, speed of preparation and taste. Let’s face it, sales are the driving motivation for anyone that processes food; thus stripping it of the natural state to place on grocery shelves for mass consumption. Often times we do not even prepare our own food to feed our families. We have easy access to process and fast foods with low nutrition value, yet can pack in high calories. Those that frequent such habits are “over-fed and under nourished.”

Combine that with sedentary living and you have overweight, possibly obese people (young and old) with poor posture and physical structure. Decreased capacity to do physical work (physical stamina-muscular and cardiovascular) is the result.

Most people get stuck being concerned about how they look. More concern should be placed on how they feel, move and look. In the midst of being in a very dismal situation regarding health, strength and body composition, particularly for urban dwellers (excessive use of cars as mode of transportation) we have the highest number of fitness facilities, weight-loss companies and products than ever in history. Additionally, the internet provides an enormous amount of information regarding exercise and weight-loss strategies. Typically, leading to “paralysis via analysis.” If you are reading this article you desire some sort of change in your health, strength and body composition. I will offer reasons for that and some solutions.

The reason we do not experience change in health, strength and body compositions is because too few food choices that enhance life. Most people have no idea how to develop strength and what advantages that has for functional capacities, maintaining health and adequate body composition. Finally, without understanding how lifestyle episodes and patterns affect outcomes, change will not occur.

The food that we eat should ideally address four needs:

mental clarity
reduce cravings
support immune function
provide energy

In order to do that, our food choices and therefore meals must be fresh, wholesome and balanced. That means proteins/fats (things that have a set of eyes; exceptions avocados, seeds and nuts which are high in fat), carbohydrates (no-eyes- fruits, veggies, legumes and grains) which have not been processed and altered. When foods go through processing in order to allow for prolonged self life, colorings and various preservatives are added to “enhance” smell, taste and color. All things that ultimately are superficial and don’t add value to our health. We are preyed upon by the food manufacturing companies. They invest money in products that target 3 areas:

Taste
Marketing
shelf-life

French fries with catsup are not vegetables! Breakfast must begin with balance. Many find it challenging to understand that oatmeal, with toast and orange juice are not appropriate. Why you might ask? It is an all sugar meal! Meals must be balanced with protein and fat (which would easily be covered if some meat accompanied the meal) not all carbs. A typical meal for someone wanting to lose weight should be ¼ meat ¾ vegetables. There are specific hormones (substances in the body the signal processes to take place) that help burn fat and there fore use it as an energy source. There are hormones that signal our bodies to store fat. In the presence of high sugar in the blood (which occurs from eating a high carb meal) the body stores fat and does not use it as a primary energy source. That makes it very easy to become overweight and obese. Our organ function (stomach, kidneys, liver, heart) do not function well in the presence of a lot of body fat. There is the fat you can see on the outside that is only part of the story. The body fat that is on the inside can be very toxic to optimal function.

It is also very straining to joints and connective tissue (non bone, non muscle that assist in our structural integrity). When our muscles are weak and not well balanced, we carry too much additional weight those factors can wreak havoc on our joints and small muscles that control movements. That explains why so many people have pain in there bodies yet have not been in any physical accident.

People frequently complain about not having the time to eat better nor can the make the time to work out and improve their physical plight. Well if you do not have time to pursue health and strength you most certainly will be forced to take the time to be ill.

A gym membership is not the answer to our challenges with health and strength. Returning to some aspects of basic life is.

Alter the way you think, say, do and the people you associate with along with the environments you are in so that you can focus on the following:

move more. Include walks, dancing, swimming, bodyweight exercise
fresh wholesome foods must be the norm not the exception
try to get as much fresh air as possible
drink ½ your body weight in onces of water per day
make this a family affair.

Frail and Brittle

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:31:33 +0000

We are living in precarious times. The fragility of our economy has placed many of us in a state of mental insecurity. We are experiencing a cash and credit crunch that are unprecedented in this current generation’s lifetime. It is not a coincidence that at the time when our economy is at its lowest point that Americans have not been this fat and out of shape than any other time in our history. However, the good news is that the tools needed to overcome the challenges of our lack of physical fitness are in our hands.

In 1960 President-elect John F. Kennedy wrote an article for Sports Illustrated called “The Soft American.” In it, he described a grave situation regarding the physical state of our youth and countrymen. His words still ring true nearly fifty years later. It is a must-read for anyone truly interested in health and strength and are looking for some motivation. His philosophies and thoughts served as my inspiration.

Preisdent Kennedy’s notion that the longevity of overall personal excellence lies in health and strength. Without good health and physical strength, we are but an empty shell and can only reach our partial potential, which is very wasteful of our most basic personal and professional resources. According to President Kennedy, ”the physical vigor of our citizens is one of America’s most precious resources. If we waste and neglect this resource, if we allow it to dwindle and grow soft then we will destroy much of our ability to meet the great and vital challenges which confront our people. We will be unable to realize our full potential as a nation.”

I submit that if in 1960, Americans were on the verge of becoming soft, in 2009, we are the verge of becoming frail and brittle well before our time. Millions of Americans suffer from illnesses that can be prevented or improved through regular physical activity. The 1996 Surgeons General Report tells the following grim story:

13.5 million people have coronary heart disease.

1.5 million people suffer from a heart attack in a given year.

8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin–dependent) diabetes.

95,000 people are newly diagnosed with colon cancer each year.

250,000 people suffer from a hip fractures each year.

50 million people have high blood pressure.

Over 60 million people (a third of the population) are overweight.

According the Mashaun D. Simon, in a recent Black Enterprise article, Losing the war on weight: obesity rates growing for African Americans, African Americans are steadily growing around the waistline. According to the National Health Report, United States, 2005, obesity in black women and black men jumped almost 11 and 7 percentage points, respectively, between 1994 and 2002. The statistics are alarming–over 60% of African American males and nearly 80% of African American females are overweight.

“Economic stability, resource accessibility, and awareness are three factors causing people to pack on the pounds, says Annie G. Cam, public health nutritionist from the Center for Disease Control when addressing the epidemic of obesity in minority populations. “The most nutritious foods are unavailable; if they are [available], they are too costly. And the communities …[minority populations tend to] live in are not conducive to regular physical activity.” Irrespective of the underlying environmental causes of obesity in the African-American community, a fundamental paradigm shift must take place such that individuals are positioning themselves to overcome these obstacles and place their health and reaching their potential at the forefront of their minds. The primary thought process must be “I need to take care of myself to allow be to achieve my personal and professional aspirations and assist those that I love.”

As a personal trainer, I have heard from countless people that they are shocked at the level of deconditioning and adverse body composition in which they find themselves. People create and allow habits that are void of appropriate priorities in regards to health and strength. The two concepts must exist in the form of daily and weekly habits to not only maintain the God-given gifts of health and vitality, but to redefine current trends in society’s physical state.

It is interesting to note the various “things” we can see on the news that are endangering our youth…drugs, sex, gang violence. Poor health due to lack of sound nutrition and adequate physical activity should be high on that list of things that are considered “menaces to society.” Instead of cutting physical fitness programs in our schools and allowing finances to be the excuse, we should be looking at the real culprits…parents that fail to prioritize children having healthy and balanced meals prior on a daily basis. It is the parents that don’t teach the importance of diverse and habitual physical activity to their children kids and set poor examples by their own inactivity. Often, these children are unwittingly set on a life-long course of physical irresponsibility that leads to a lifetime of obesity.

Just as it is our financial responsibility not to spend more that we have or take on mortgages that we know we can not afford. We must not eat more food than our bodies can metabolize (burn off to reduce/avoid excess body fat). It is important for our financial resources to work for us by investing well and saving money. We must likewise invest in our bodies, by using our muscles and training ourselves to increase the availability of our physical selves to serve us actively long past the vitality trends we are current experiencing.

President Kennedy so appropriately stated in 1960…”physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity. The relationship between the soundness of the body and the activities of the mind is subtle and complex. Much is not yet understood. But we do know what the Greeks knew: that intelligence and skill can only function at the peak of their capacity when the body is healthy and strong; that hardy spirits and tough minds usually inhabit sound bodies.
In this sense, physical fitness is the basis of all the activities of our society. And if our bodies grow soft and inactive, if we fail to encourage physical development and prowess, we will undermine our capacity for thought, for work and for the use of those skills vital to an expanding and complex America.”

Sean Armstead, Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert
Sean Armstead is the co-owner of Phenomenal Fitness