My Blog on
Health & Wellness, our community, and anything else that comes to mind
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How did I end up starting Form Fitness
Chapter I
Back in 1992 as I was starting my junior
year at San Jose State, I came across
a Yoga Temple (Ashram) and began my studies
of Yoga which included Martial Arts for the
following 5 years. While there, I
resorted to adopting this lifestyle in its
entirety and assumed a very simple yet
demanding lifestyle; this included training
everyday from 5-7 am and then again at 6-8
pm, becoming a complete Vegan, and giving up
on everything that I knew to be fun.
Before going any further I would like to
define Yoga; Yoga in Sanskrit means
"unity". Unity of mind, body, and
soul. In addition, Yoga is broken down
into four parts; Hatha, Bahakti, Jana,
Raja. Hatha consist of movement and
diet which includes martial arts as its
cardio portion, yoga postures, and
breathing. Bahakti is the Yoga of
love, Jana is the scriptures, mainly the
book of Yoga (Bahagvagetha), and Raja is
considered the highest level, meaning Royal
Yoga which is attained by the great swamis
and spiritual masters. Yoga was
founded over 5,000 years ago and spelled out
in the book of Yoga, Bhagvagitha.
In this book you will find the roots of all
religions and spiritual beliefs. It is
the blueprint of life, love, and the cosmos.
A beautifully complex read, and for an
insight on why we are here.
I'm sure that the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "Ashram"
is a hidden place in the woods, peaceful and quite, with plenty of animals
roaming freely in peace and harmony with nature. This Ashram was indeed
all of that but located in San Jose, CA. inside a retail shopping center,
approx. 2,000 sq ft. I guess you can call this the Ashram of the 21st century.
The space was simple with curtains covering the windows, hardwood floors,
mirrors all around with a small space in the corner devoted for meditation.
My Swami (teacher) was a professor at S.J.S.U. and in addition was/is a
Homeopathic Doctor running a private practice. He was and is a sweet man
whom I consider my second father and will always love him for teaching me,
loving me, and guiding me in the right direction. Life in the Temple was
simple; eat well (vegan), train hard (6 days a week), and learn about life, the
cosmos, love, and self discovery. Everyday started at 5:00 am sharp.
The first hour consisted mainly of the martial arts training. After the
warm-up we worked hard for an entire hour. Mind you, I have been an
athlete my entire life, playing water polo, swimming, soccer, Ironman racing
etc, yet nothing compared to the intensity of our training here. Needless
to say after the Temple I had discovered how far I could push myself and this
continues to this day. After the first hour we would be drenched
in sweat and would get about 2 minutes to catch our breath and to get a drink of
water. Immediately following the first hour we would start the traditional
postures of Yoga and end the hour with some breathing and meditation. Then
we were off to our responsibilities in life (school, work, family) and returned
that day at 6:00 pm to do this all over again until 8:00 pm.
We trained like this M-F and on Saturdays took our training to Half-moon Bay.
Our Saturdays started with getting in the ocean at 4:30 am (that's right, 4:30
am) where we practiced punching and kicking into the waves. After 45
minutes of this we then proceeded to run a 10 mile out and back on the sand, followed by an hour of Yoga. The best part was that
once you were in the water you wanted to work hard to keep your body temperature
up.
The good news about food was that you had to eat light, otherwise you could
not train. I remember eating like a bird where everything was raw veggies
and a full day's intake was around 500 calories. This was a huge
surprise since I, like everyone else, was under the impression that I needed to
consume at least a few thousand calories for the work I was doing. This is
where I learned about the quality of calories rather than the quantity of
calories. The toughest part was the first month where I had to allow my
body to adapt but once we passed the first month I was able to do this with
greater ease. I started the temple at 180 lbs with 5% body fat and within
a month I had dropped 20 lbs and reduced my body fat to 3%. I slept for
only 6 hrs a night but those 6 hrs were solid. I often fantasize about
that sleep and wonder how life would be to sleep like this all the time.
Sundays were our day off. even if I wanted to train I was not allowed.
Swamiji considered this day to be a day to rest and re-charge. As
the days turned into weeks and months, the training got tougher and more
demanding. We started the lecture series where Samiji would train us extra
hard followed by 30-45 minutes of lecture on Yoga Philosophy. This turned
out to be my favorite part since I had always hungered for the answes to life,
love, and why we are here. Please note that answers to these kinds of
questions are all about self discovery and what one considers food for his or
her soul. So I hope that this section does not promote/demote any one type
of spiritual belief. As Swamaji always would say; an individual's
spiritual belief is great as long as it feeds into their soul and helps them
become a better human being.
The Temple was demanding, the training was unbelievably hard, now combine
this with lack of social life at your prime and you have very little reason to
be there. But for these reasons exactly I found myself gravitating towards
it. I loved being pushed, I loved training like a maniac, I loved the fact
that once finished with workouts I would be floating on water. Words can
not describe how good I felt. My system was clean, my mind was clearing,
and best of all I was getting answers to the biggest questions in life.
Seeing the positive changes in me brought to light the Temple amongst my circle
of friends and pretty soon a number of them joined. At first 3, then
another and then another. I was grateful to have all of them there to
train alongside with after all; "Misery loves company". And by having them
there I could feel better about missing the Friday night parties and night life.
Instead of hearing them talk about the parties we would talk about how hard the
workouts were that day or our latest find in Soy Burgers (Boca being one of the
earliest). Mind you this is 1992-97 where Soy products were only found in
what used to be called "Health Food Stores" I think its safe to say that
in the early 90's there existed more dirty magazine stores and health food
stores. Being a fan of health food was an underground thing and to
mainstream these were "weird people". Today healthy eating has become
mainstream, organic products are in every store and in the frozen soy burger
sections of every store you can find over 20 brands of Soy burgers.
OHHhhhh how far have we come over the past 15 years and how great it is to see
this industry grow. Unfortunately bad habits and lack of exercise has also
grown where now it has become a major problem for us and generations to come.
When I first started at the Temple I would constantly find myself defending it
and my new lifestyle to family and friends. My mother could not stand the
fact that I would not eat meat or dairy. And as she saw the change in my
body she would try and sneak meat or chicken broth in my food. This was
funny at first but after few months it became a major problem for me. My
body could not handle meat products, esp. with my training regiment. The
broth was heavy and would take a toll on my energy level. Yes, believe it
or not meat is extremely heavy for the body and is the biggest reason behind
lack of energy. Just in case you are wondering if this statement is true
or not; try cutting out all meat products out of your diet for 1 week and you
will see not only drop of weight right away but also a huge boost in energy
levels. My brother would constantly challenge my new choices and would
even go as far as getting into argument over my daily routine. "god
created us to have fun" he would say, "He created Tequila shots so that we be
merry and celebrate life"...etc. I guess change is difficult for everyone
including for those around you, even if its for the better. Which is
precisely why I would encourage my clients looking to better their situation to
accept the fact that they are doing this for themselves, that they should only
do this for themselves and no-one else. Otherwise it is destined to fail.
Unfortunately part of being a social creature is to be dependent on family and
friends around us. We care alot about how we view and are viewed by them.
Unfortunately if our circle is comfortable living a certain way and we look to
deviate from this certain way, we stand to be judged, ridiculed, and made fun of.
A good example was my brother who would tie family love with partying together
for the night or demanding that you take a shot of Tequila in order to celebrate
the family love. (Mind you he is not an alcoholic or out of control
partier) I am merely speaking of regular parties or celebrations which
include the holidays and so forth.
It took me about 25 years to realize that I was ultimately in charge of my life and my choices; and to this I felt blessed to have made the changes for the better. The first rule in making the change for the better is to accept the fact that
it is only you deciding for you. No-one else can help or do things for you. Second is to do whatever it takes to move in the right direction and avoid things that can divert your attention from your goal. And lastly; don't give up - commit to working hard. Today I'm 36 soon to be 37 years old and I try and live by these rules everyday of my life.
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Chapter II "Las Vegas"
In 1997 while working in Tech I was presented the opportunity to join a new start-up and open up a division of our company in Las Vegas, NV. At the time the Las Vegas boom was well underway and technology was to be part of all the new mega resorts. Initially I was not too excited about this, but after giving it much thought I was willing to pack up all my belongings and move to Las Vegas. The worst part was being away from family and the Temple, so to sweeten the deal I got 2 flights home every month. I packed up my goods, put my car on top of a tow trailer and drove down to Vegas. I would be lying if I told you that I had no fear or that I was sure about this journey. All I knew was that I had made a choice to do this and was going to see it through. I got there and the first thing I did was to find a place to live. I ended up in Henderson (neighboring town to Las Vegas) in the area of Green Valley. This was close to my office and the airport which came in handy for us since we shipped all products in and out of Vegas. Once there I found a nice Fitness Center, Green Valley Athletic Club, which had 12 indoor Tennis courts along with indoor and an outdoor pool. This place was massive but given the 112 degree avg summer temps being indoor was the only way to survive and keep active.
Who is responsible for your happiness in
life?
So far I have been writing about people
and businesses who tend to market bad
products making faulty claims and how we as
a society buy into this and pay them large
sums of money to continue. When I
decided to make Fitness my profession I made
one simple promise to teach people how to
fish and not fish for them. These
write-ups I hope have helped people in some
way to learn/identify and avoid being taken
advantage of when looking to achieve their
fitness/wellness goals.
Years ago I was fortunate enough to live in a Yoga Ashram where I studied and
practiced martial arts and Yoga, hence building Form Fitness, there I learned
much about Yoga, martial arts, hard work, and life in general. Much of
those years have helped guide me today where I am able to try and live by those
wonderful principles. One of which is "take full responsibility for your
life". It has been said in many scriptures and holy books where in order
to achieve happiness one must take full responsibility for his or her actions.
No matter what faith one adopts this statement rings true for us all. Over
the past years I have done my best to educate people on bad products or services
that can get you a quick fix of health and wellness. Today I wanted to
expand on this by pointing out that ultimately it is us as individuals who are
responsible for our own happiness or lack thereof. The world is filled
with people who look for ways of ripping you off without a care as to the damage
they cause, fortunately Karma will deal with them as it always does. So the best thing we can do to avoid being taken advantage of is to educate
ourselves and work hard not to go after these quick fixes which tend to do us
more harm than good. Instead, we should work hard and earn our health. As I have said
in the past "your fitness is not microwaveable, you must earn it".
So put aside your fears and demand more of yourself and take action towards
bettering your health, no one else can do this for you.
2-08-07
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Take ownership for your life and don't get exploited...
Yesterday, like most days, a friend of a
friend stopped by to give me a brochure on
supplements. These were not just any
supplements but rather "Omega 3", so I was
being told. I recognized the person
since I had met her before asking if I was
looking to hire a life coach for the gym (to
help our clients figure out their life).
Out of respect to my friend, I decided to
give her the opportunity to pitch her
product before I gave her my answer which
would be a big NO. I sat there for
about 10 minutes while she mapped out in
detail how we lack Omega 3 in our diets and
how this specific brand of pills were the
solution. Just as she was about to
finish the technical specs on the product
she proceeded to shift to the potential
profits. She mentioned how a number of
gyms have had great success selling this
particular brand and "that they were flying
off the shelves". The margins were
great in that I could mark them up by 200%
and make a nice return on my investment.
Once she was done I began to explain my views on supplements and how through
proper diet (good eating) one could achieve the required quantity and mix.
The sales person, life coach, etc. stopped me in my tracks where she pointed out
that "people would much rather take a pill than eat food rich in nutrients".
That is when I had to shift from in-direct (trying to be nice) to direct mode
(which I tend to be most of the time). I told her to stop the pitch and
that my opinion on supplements in general is no different than my opinion on
snake oils. The conversation went back and forth where she pushed the high
profit margins and the noble work in helping those who lacked good eating
habits. I later ended the discussion and basically asked her to leave since my
answers were not getting us anywhere.
Last night I went home and talked this over with the wife where we talked
about the problem of obesity and poor nutrition and how companies and people
have seized this opportunity to exploit those looking for a quick fix, or think
that this is a quick fix. All while spending crazy amounts of hard earned
money.
Today I wanted to put out a gentle reminder that in order to achieve your
fitness/wellness goals you must take ownership of your life and make a change in
your lifestyle and adopt a healthy way of eating and living. Do not pay a
dime on products or services that promise you this quick fix or buy into
commercials which are trying to sell you products that you do not need.
Take full responsibly and learn what good eating is all about, learn how
to build good habits, learn to avoid unhealthy living and unhealthy people.
Unfortunately not many people in our industry really think about the damage they
cause others who are in need of guidance rather being seen as easy prey.
Most are lost in their own way which has led them to take on such professions
where they make their living selling snake oils or what they perceive as the
cure.
Sassan 2-01-07
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Looking back at 2006 I am once again humbled by life and how much I have
learned. Looking back I hope to reflect on 06 and looking
forward to putting those lessons to work for 2007.
Today is January 1, 2007 and I am certain that almost everyone has great
goals in mind for the new year and ready to tackle them one by one. and atop of
everyone's list is better fitness and health. The main thing I wanted to
talk about today is how to make sure that you stick to this goal and achieve
your desired fitness goals.
First rule of reaching this goal; Consistency. This means you can not
miss a day of scheduled workout. Now everyone has different workout
schedule and hopefully you have mapped out which days you will be working out
and which days you are off. With this in hand we must do everything in our
power to make sure not to miss any days. You miss one day you miss your
ability to achieve your goal, it is this simple. DO NOT MISS ANY DAYS.
Eat smaller portions. Your body is able to live, function, and be at its
best with less then 1000 calories, now these are good calories so make each
calorie count. High nutrition content, high fiber, low sugar. Eat
plenty of fruits and veggies (sugar from fruit is fine just as long as it is
small portions).
And lastly, make a change for the better and get the entire family onboard
for the new year.
Sassan (jan. 1, 07)
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www.greendimes.com check it out and
learn what you can do to help the environment
Sassan
As an avid athlete, trainer, and a gym owner I am always bombarded with these
questions. If not asked, I tend to offer unsolicited advice when
necessary to help people achieve their best in health and fitness.
The best way to think about this is to imagine a table. In this case we'll use the table as the foundation which you build good health and fitness
on.
Strength, cardio, nutrition, and flexibility are the four legs which hold up
this table and keep it balanced, and as you can imagine, if one leg is
missing everything on this table would fall off and could not perform its
function as any sort of foundation.
Now let's breakdown each one to see the benefits and the problems, as well as why
all four need to be part of ones weekly training regimene.
Strength: On the average one should do 2 days of strength/ resistance
training, ideally circuit type training. Keep the weights light
while working higher reps. For example; I use 25 lb dumbbells to do chest
press while doing 6 sets of 20 with a 20 second rest, all of this while coming in at 180
lbs. Even on the squats I tend to use no more than 50 lbs total. I am
using myself as an example so don't get carried away thinking that I'm trying
to show off with the high amount of weights that I lift ;)
The circuit should contain higher percentage of lower body than upper body, perhaps 60%-40% lower body vs. upper body. This is because majority of our
body weight is in our legs and core which when trained can help burn more
calories and get us in shape faster. Problem with resistance work is
that it tightens up your muscles and overtime can create major problems in your
ability to fight off infections and diseases and hinder your muscle potential.
Cardio: In my opinion, everyone should do at least 30 minutes of
cardio each day with varying degrees of intensity where you are pushing your
heart to the max(90%-110%), working in the fat burning zone (70%), and lastly
recovery (30%40%) for your body to flush out all the bi-products from hard
efforts. The max work should be kept to 1-2 days a week,
anymore will result in overworking your body and breaking down your fitness and
immune system. This is where most people make the mistake of pushing too
hard, too often and get very little or no results.
Medium zone is where one should spend 70% of their time doing cardio.
The medium zone is at roughly 70% of your max heart rate and where you burn the
most amount of fat while building and boosting your health.
Recovery days should follow your max days where your body is tired but can
use a light workout to flush out lactic acid as well loosen up your muscles so
that they can recover and be ready to be pushed the following day. Monday
and Fridays are good days since most people use the weekends to be very active
as well the mid-week to work hard.
Flexibility: This is hands down the most important aspect of proper
training because it is directly tied into health. Flexibility equals better circulation,
better circulation equals better health. In today's world most of us get
sick and lack strong immune systems because of stress and tension. Being
diligent with flexibility is the only way to fight this and better our health.
The secondary benefit is better functioning muscles by making them long & lean
which not only look great but also enhances their function.
Nutrition: You are what you eat, it is that simple.
Eat as much raw food as you can. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies.
Stay away from processed food. If it comes in a box do not eat.
Water is your best friend.
Sassan Oct. 3rd 06
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Special on Dateline NBC about infomercials and the snake oils they sell?
If you have been following my blogs on
this page you should remember the one dated
May 06,
regarding Diet pills. Last week I got
stuck watching Dateline (I usually dislike
these shows but this one I had to watch).
Dateline created a rejuvenating pill which
if taken daily would reduce wrinkles and
promote healthier skin. The pill was
made-up of Nestles Quick chocolate milk
powder. They showed how some companies
specialize in taking any product to market.
They create the packaging, produce the
commercials, get client testimonials, as
well as back this garbage up with clinical
findings and or doctors. This show was
great because it showed the daylight
robbery that is taking place on a daily
basis where people are sold junk in the name
of good health and or wellness.
How can they get away with this?
Simple, they get away with this because of their constitutional rights of freedom of speech.
The crime has been committed once
they go out and sell the product where the government can then go after them for the false
representation of a product and with so many of these companies the government
has a hard time keeping up with them. Even when the government does
go after them they still make out like bandits and start selling the same junk
under a different name. They make 20 million before the government gets
to them, get fined 2 million once busted, so let me bust out my abacus and do
the math...20-2= 18 mil...which they use to finance the
next round of snake oils.
Bottom line is not to spend a dime on any of these products and to take
ownership of your health and well being by becoming more active, eat healthier
foods and enjoy life to the fullest.
Sassan 9/20/2006
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I know this question and what you are about to read has nothing to do with
physical health and wellness but due to a recent event in my life I felt the need to write
something up on this subject. Ultimately mental and emotional healing can
play a big part in good physical health.
Two weeks ago, while in church, I had the opportunity to hear a testimony of a
husband and wife who live on the east coast but were here, waiting on a heart
transplant for their 6 year old daughter (over at Stanford). They shared a
story about the "power of prayer" and how it saved their little girls life.
Their 6 year old daughter was diagnosed with a major heart problem which
required a transplant and the daughter was placed on a list that they were told
could be a one to two year wait. The little girls heart condition had gotten
critical, which is why they actually made the trip out to Stanford. She
underwent a delicate surgery that they had hoped would temporarily fix the
problem until a heart became available. The surgery was not successful and they
were told their daughter had approximately 2 weeks to live unless a heart
miraculously became available. The family and friends did the only thing they could and that
was to pray. As the mother was telling this story she was overwhelmed with
emotions because her wish was to keep her daughter alive and the only way this
could happen was be to have another child die. So instead of praying for a heart
for her daughter, she prayed for the family who would be suffering from
incredible loss. Twenty four hours later a call came in from Portland OR where
there was an accident and a heart as being flown down to Stanford. The heart
arrived a few hours later and their daughters surgery next day. Needless to say she is doing great,
and on the path of recovery. The power of prayer is truly a miracle.
My write-up is not about the power of prayer or how God works miracles, but rather how these parents were
helped and supported by The Ronald McDonald House while going through this ordeal. This was a very powerful thing for
me to hear, especially now that I am a father of a little girl. I could not imagine
how difficult it was for this family to leave their home, and uproot the rest of
their family for months while they were going through this. I was
puzzled because up until now I thought that the Ronald McDonald House was
primarily a place where
they had toys for kids to play with...I know, I'm a knucklehead for thinking this
but I did... So it turns out that there are several Ronald McDonalds Homes
near large children's hospitals all over the country set up for families that
have very sick children who require lengthy stays at hospitals and who's
families are out of town. These families can stay here for free or a nominal fee
while their loved ones get treatment for terminal illnesses. I'm not sure why I never knew this while I rode my bike by the Ronald McDonald
House every single day on
Sand hill Rd., but once I heard this I had to put a call out to them and learn
more. Now I am on board with doing as much as I can to help this house and those
families needing help. In addition I thought this would be a great forum
to put the word out about what the Ronald McDonald House and the huge service it
does. As you
all know we are always looking for great organizations with great causes to help
and today I am happy to say that we have found another great one to add to our
list. If you would like to learn more about the Ronald McDonald House please visit them
online at
http://www.ronaldhouse-stanford.org/
Sassan 9/15/06 ....BTW, look for a special fundraising event at Form in the
coming weeks to help raise more money for Ronald McDonald House
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Fall: days getting shorter, colder, and darker... time to get fat or a start
of a new beginning?
As a kid I always loved spring.
This meant that summer was right around the
corner and school and homework were about to
end for good (at least for 3 months).
What's funny is that now I love Fall, not so
much for the shorter days and cooler weather
but rather for this being a time for a new
beginning. I guess this is why a leaf
represents "New Beginnings". You get
the chance to start all over and prepare for
the new year which is right around the
corner.
Today I wanted to talk about the importance of fall and why everyone should
make the most of it rather than giving into the depressing view that fall is
cold and dark. I have always found that by getting started on a new plan
in fall I am able to avoid the unhealthy part of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and
by the new year I am already fit and do not feel the stress of taking on the
world to loose the unwanted winter coat. So now that we know how important
fall can be in our yearly cycle how do we go about getting started?
- We start with planning activities which will allow us to
remain active while dealing with shorter days. For example; lookup the
group-ex schedule and mark different classes throughout the week.
Making sure to have a good balance of Cardio, strength, and flexibility.
You can take Indoor Cycling classes for cardio, Body Blast, Core & more for
strength, and Yoga or Mat Pilates for flexibility.
- Staying on top of your sleep habits and cycles.
Make sure to get enough sleep but not over-sleep. Oversleeping can
have the same effects as not enough. So synchronies your sleep for the
entire week and stay active so that you can sleep better and more soundly.
Our lives are filled with stress, caffeine, and alcohol, which can have a
negative impact on your sleep which than has an impact on your daily life.
- Eat plenty of good food. Know that its OK to eat
healthy portions in fall and winter, just as long as you are active.
The body automatically goes into gaining mode for fall and winter which
results in gaining 5%-8% of your normal weight. Anything above 8% is
too much so try not to let this happen.
Follow these simple guidelines and welcome fall into your life
as it is a start of a new beginning.
Sassan 9-13-06
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Sports and Fitness Gadgets... Can I use them to get in shape? are they
worth the price?
As an athlete and a gym owner I am always
bombarded with people and companies trying
to push new high-tech products to use and
sell here at Form. As you all know I
have spent the past 10 years of my life
racing Triathlons and cycling.
And over the past 10 years I have seen all
kinds of products, the simplest being a
computer on bike to a heart rate monitor and
to a more complex gadget such as a Power meters to now GPS devices that
pretty much act as a laptop computer on your
wrist. The ideas behind these items
are noble, they act as tools which one can
use to better their training, hence health.
Or tools that can help one make the most of
the one hour that they have to train.
In the end they are considered tools for
training and if used to their full potential
one can definitely gain much and better his
or her fitness.
Obviously you should get some tools when
needed i.e.; the right bike, the right shoes,
etc. (see my write-up below on the right
equip). Last week I met a friend of a friend
who was spending great deal of money
building some database/website where people
could visit and get their daily workouts,
nutrition guidelines, and other information used to
better their health. I always respect
people who do things to better other peoples
lives. But in this case they were
selling this as a way to help people get
healthier. Noble idea but will it make those
paying and using really become healthier?
The Problem
As I see it, the problem is not lack of knowledge or information (a.k.a
database), god knows that we have the world in our hands through the internet
and Google, if anything their is too much information which at its best confuses
most rather than give a solid answer. The problem is informing people with
what they really need to know and what to do with this information. People
are getting fat by lack of activity and laziness not lack of information and if
one was to look deeper one would find sitting behind the computer to better ones
health is not the best use if time.
So as I listened to this person I asked him directly "how do you get them to do
what they are told by your database?" he cracked a big
smile "well, that is up to each individual". I walked away thinking to myself, in today's world their are hundreds of people and companies who spend
crazy amount of time and money to produce things and ideas to sell to the public
as the "secret sauce". End all Cure all to unhealthy living. And the
sad part is that we as a society pay billions for this garbage and take it
hoping that it will solve our problem of getting fatter and loose weight.
These products are not cheap; for example, a wristwatch GPS which you can ride
or run with costs around $500.00. Its great that it tells you that you
went "X" amount of miles in a "Y" amount of time, but is this really how you get
fit? NO, you get fit by adopting an active lifestyle which requires you to push
yourself to do more. Eating better and avoiding unhealthy habits such as
too much drinking or smoking and staying up too late.
I think when god (or who ever you think) created life he or she put in place
a simple cycle. "Cycle of life and Cosmos" A cycle which if lived by would
deliver better function, better understanding, and ultimately healthier and
happier living. And when we try and mess with this cycle we end up "out-of-wack". which results in unhealthy body and mind. Over the past 10
years of coaching athletes and being around them I have always found that the
ones who get distracted by gadgets (99% of the time) are the ones who are lazy,
lack discipline, and tend to fail in their athletic goals. And the ones
who simply put in the hard work each and everyday are the ones who reach their goals
with ease and continue to grow in their quest. If you were to talk to any
Professional runner, Nike Farm team for example, you will find that they simply
run everyday and require very little in the form of tools and gadgets.
Running shoes, shorts, workouts by their coach, and some good old fashioned
discipline, that is it. They are
some of the fastest and healthiest runners in the country.
When it comes to gadgets and or tools, always remember that you do not need
anything other than the will to get out there and be active. This is why
Form has become a huge success, we push our members to participate in our group
exercise classes where they will be pushed to work hard each and everyday rather
than take on this challenge on their own. And making sure that they put in
a good mix of Cardio, strength, and flexibility throughout the week so that they
are able to reach their goal in good health. God gave us all the ultimate tool which is
this amazing body, all we need to do is to get up and get moving.
Stay active, don't waste your money on quick fixes or gadgets, and never
allow yourself to get too comfortable. Work hard and enjoy the fruits of
your labor.
Sassan, 7-10-06
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Diet pills/drinks....Snake Oil? Do they really work?
First of all I would like to apologies
for delay in new postings. As many of
you know, my wife Amy and I had a little
princess in March so needless to say I am
addicted to her and spend every second I can
watching her grow-up.
Today I wanted to talk about Diet pills and Diet drinks which promise to get
you fit, healthy, and thin. A multi Billion dollar industry that preys on
everyone's need to be thinner. So to start off I would like to say that
none of the diet products in the market today actually work, none. Not
only do they not work but often times they can disrupt/damage the users
metabolism. Almost all of these products are Speed based and this is
derived mostly from Caffeine. Caffeine is a natural form of appetite
suppressant which works only for as long as it is pumping through your system.
Once it wears off it will result in bunking (crashing) and as we all know, when
you bunk is when you crave sweets. Caffeine is considered to be very high on the
Glycemic Index which is why when it wears off you are left with an endless
hunger, esp. hunger for sweets. In addition to making you hungry it can
cause moodiness and loss of energy. Stay tuned and I will do a write up on
Glycemic Index and its effects on your hunger.
So how do they get away with making all kinds of crazy claims? Very
simply, they are very cleaver in how they present it to you. All ads have
a fine print that states "With proper diet and exercise".
The fact of the matter is that with proper diet and exercise alone you can
achieve this goal and do not need to spend any money on a product that does
nothing for you. Lately these companies have become ever more clever by
offering you these products for free, "Just pay shipping and handling".
Shipping and handling usually will cost you around $8-$10. And by selling
millions of these bottles these companies get rich, close shop and open another
company producing the same junk under a different name. So next time you
see a commercial for diet pills or diet drinks change the channel. Avoid
exposing yourself or your family to these types of products. The less you
know about them the better. Instead, get out and exercise, eat right, be
active and live life to the fullest. Look for more write-ups now that my
baby Mac is bigger and she can sit right next to me while I write these blogs.
Sassan (05-30-06)
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Pro Shop at FORM Fitness:
Buying Products from our Pro Shop
(bikes, parts, shorts and shoes, etc.)
As a consumer I, like any other consumer, was confronted with the same questions when purchasing athletic products for my self. Keep in mind that I view great athletic wear to be practical and comfortable first and than great looking and hip.
Throughout my athletic career over the past 25 years I pretty much bought anything and everything out there that promised to make me look good and make help me go faster (or to think that I was), as well gave me an edge over my competitors. I spent thousands of dollars on bikes, cycling shoes, helmets, jerseys, bike parts, supplements, energy food that made me sick but still I ate it because it was supposed to be good for me. I bought the latest and the greatest gadgets, gadgets which were never used but looked cool to me. I bought them since I saw them on someone else's bike during a bike ride or at a race and thought it looked cool. At the end, I spent a ton of money on things that ended up just collecting in my garage and never being used. For example; I bought a pair of $450 shoes which were hand made in Italy and worn by the best sprinter in the world. I was excited to put my cleats on and go out for a ride where I would click down and sprint like Super Mario. After I made it out to Canada road I clicked down, got out of the saddle and began to sprint and fly. I powered up but ended up feeling the soft Italian leather stretch and flex as I tried to press down and pull up with my feet. Just so we are clear, cycling shoes should fit like a glove and your feet should not move in any way shape or form inside the shoe. Needless to say, the shoes were the worst shoes for cycling. I learned that Soft Italian leather is great for Armani dress shoes but terrible for my cycling shoes. That day I took my cleats off the shoes and put the shoes on Ebay so that I could sell them and recover my $450. In 2 weeks the auction ended and I recovered about $195 of the $450. I was very upset and disappointed with my experience, I could not return the shoes to the store since I had already warned them and now I got stuck paying $250 for one days worth of riding.
This was a great lessen that I learned from and made a promise not to repeat this mistake again buying products that did not meet or exceed my expectation.
Today I only buy products for our pro-shop that I use my self. And now want to share with you my knowledge as to what works and why. And hopefully save you the headache and wasted money.
So let’s start with bikes and work our way down the list.
Bikes / Frames
Above you will see a picture of a bike "Ridley Damocles". Hands down the best built bikes for the price as well geometry and quality.
So lets talk about the quality first:
Ridley bikes are hands down one of the
best bikes ever built. The attention to detail and quality puts the Ridley frames on par with custom built bikes at a fraction of the cost.
Geometry
In my opinion, as well many other experts, almost all the frames in the market today are built with the wrong geometry; Especially if you are 5 foot 6 or taller (which happens to be 95% of the market). The first measurement that should be looked at is the seat tube (A). This is the tube which your seat plugs into, as indicated by the name. This is to accommodate the riders’ leg height. For the most part every bike is built with the same measurements which can easily be modified by moving your seat post higher or lower (except compact frames which are shorter in length) and require longer seat posts. The second measurement is the top tube, this is the distance from the center of the seat-post to the center of the head tube (the vertical tube in front of the fame “C” ) this is to accommodate for the riders torso and arms. This measurement can also be modified by adding or reducing length in your stem. Keep in mind that there is a limit as to how far you can extend your stem. A simple rule to follow, do not put on a stem exceeding 110 CM. Anything above 110CM makes the bike head heavy for the rider when descending and or cornering which can be dangerous and uncomfortable. The last main measurement is the head tube. This is the length of the vertical tube in front of the frame where the fork is inserted and ties the handle bars to the stem and than to the fork “D”. This as well can be adjusted by adding or reducing the amount of spacers on your fork. You are limited in how far can lift the stem/handlebars. And since most forks are carbon, you can not place more than 1 inch worth of spacers to lift your handlebars. Anything above this is dangerous and can cause you to break the top of your fork when riding. You can gain further height by flipping your stem upside down but this as well will take away from your bike handling.
So as you can see all three of the main measurements can be adjusted to make for the right fit. So what is so special about the Ridley bikes that make their geometry so much better? The Ridley frames are built with the longest head tubes in the industry. Which allows the rider not to place too many spacers to get the desired bar height. As well the stem is sitting directly above the head tube, translation; comfort, stability, control. In addition to longer head tubes, Ridley has revolutionized frame geometry by introducing the first 1.5inch bottom headset. While every other frame manufacturer is following the herd with old and outdated geometry 1 and 1/8 headsets, Ridley is leading the way with the best geometry in the world. I guess this is why their ads read "don't follow the herd". All while maintaining light low weight on all their frames
You can bet that all bike manufacturers will eventually follow Ridley and build bikes that actually fit each rider. But until then you have one option that you can always count on, Ridley geometry. Ultimately, you are the best person to make the decision on the right fit by taking one of these bikes on a ride. And just so you know, I will be more than happy to lend you my own Damocles to try out.
Ridley makes bikes for all levels and price points, all sharing the same incredible geometry and attention to details. Ridley frames range from $995 for the entry level to $2799.00 for the Damocles. So feel free to call or email me if you want to learn more about these amazing bikes and if one of these could end up being yours.
Indoor cycling
If you wanted to take up Indoor cycling or ride a bike you should keep a few things in mind; cycling shorts, cycling shoes, types of cleats and pedals, cycling clothing, and energy food / drinks.
Even though you can ride our Indoor cycling bikes with regular shoes and shorts we strongly suggest that you make the investment and buy cycling shorts and shoes and here is why:
Cycling shorts
Cycling shorts come with padding (chamoise). Padding is very important in your experience on the bike. The first reason why it is important is the cushioning that it provides between your sits bones and the saddle. Second reason is the lycra material which eliminates chaffing and pulls moisture away from your body. Cycling shorts also come in Bibs (overalls) or shorts. The benefit of bibs over shorts is that they are more comfortable overall especially around the waistline, where as shorts will press on the riders bladder due to the position of the body on the bike. With all the different short and chamois out there what should one look for when ready to buy shorts:
- Look for high count panels in the lycra shorts. This makes for a better fit which can conform to your build for better comfort.
- Invest in shorts with good padding. Good padding will be less bulky and provide padding in vital areas and nothing more. Furthermore, you want padding that is light, quick dry, and made with antibacterial product. When riding outdoors for 2-4 hrs this can become a major benefit.
- The prices for shorts range from $40-$150 Most people can get great shorts in the $75-$125, anything more is just too much and un-necessary.
- Bibs range from $99.00-$250.00; the best price points tend to range from $100-$150.
At our Pro-shop we only carry two brand of cycling shorts: Castelli and Bergamo. Both Castelli and Bergamo are international brands that are viewed as two of the best in the industry, not the most expensive, just two of the best. As a matter of fact our Cycling team rides with Castelli, which should say a lot about the quality and comfort. We carry both solid as well as Form Fitness team shorts. Both shorts and bib-shorts come with great chamois and all at a reasonable price. Stop by and take a look for your self.
Do I really need Cycling shoes to take an indoor cycling class or to ride a bike?
Think of it this way, riding with running shoes vs. cycling shoes is like Skiing with running shoes rather than ski boots. Cycling shoes have a hard and stiff sole which allows you to pedal on a flat hard surface. Unlike running, while cycling your foot or the shoe should not flex or bend during the exercise, the only areas which have a bend or flex while cycling are the ankle, knee, and hips. Flexing and bending of the foot can lead to foot injuries and or cramping of the foot. Cycling shoes also come with straps which are designed to provide support for the top of the feet, esp. when pulling up and kicking the feet over on the top stroke of the pedal. Also, when pedaling with cycling shoes your leg muscles will develop in a greater degree of cemetery, unlike running shoes, which is why cyclists have symmetric and well proportioned leg muscles.
What do I look for when purchasing cycling shoes?
- Fit
- material
- durability
- Price
Cycling shoes should fit your foot like a glove. Unlike running or tennis shoes, cycling shoes should have no extra room for your feet to move around in. Support the arch of your feet as well cup your heels while feeling snug is key. Shoes too tight have their fair share of problems; this is especially true with cycling shoes that come with shoe laces versus Velcro straps, so avoid the laces and stick to Velcro straps and buckles. The snug and comfortable feel of the shoe will allow for an effective and efficient transfer of power from your foot on to the pedal. This is where you will find that not all cycling shoes are built the same and avoid buying the wrong shoes. Cycling shoes can cost anywhere from $50.00 to upwards of $700.00 for custom. It is crucial to do your homework and make sure that you are buying the right shoes. The good news is that you will use your cycling shoes for a long time (6-7 years) compared to running or tennis shoes which need to be replaced once every 4-5 months. Investing in a good pair of cycling shoes not only makes your experience on the bike better but allow you to truly feel the bike rather just going through the motions.
As a Triathlete and an avid cyclist I have tried just about every brand and type of cycling shoe out there and the two brands that pretty much stick out above and beyond the rest is “DMT” and “Northwave”.
“DMT (Diamant SRL), based in Verona, Italy, has a strong heritage within the cycling industry, and is considered one of the true innovators of the sport. The company reinforced that reputation in 2001 when they introduced the Ultimax Road Shoe, which featured a unique single-piece, integrated heel cup that made it the most efficient, comfortable performance shoe on the market. Since then, they've continued to build upon the success of the Ultimax design and have expanded their offering to include a full line of Road, Triathlon, MTB/Cross, and Spinning shoes”.
After reviewing the Ultimax road shoe it was clear to me that I had found the perfect cycling shoe, which is why today I only wear my DMT shoes and like them so much that we sell them here at our Pro-shop. And Form fitness is the only place in peninsula you can find a full line of DMT shoes.
As to Indoor cycling shoes DMT makes a specific shoe called “Wave”. This is designed for indoor cycling with a sexy look and comfortable feel which is ideal for all Indoor cycling junkies. As a matter of fact my own wife uses these shoes and loves them. These shoes are reasonably priced which makes them the best shoes for all entry level cyclist.
In the next month or two look for us to bring in complete line of 2006 DMT shoes.
  
Now that you have learned about shoes comes the next question: With all the cleat options which cleat and pedal system should I choose?
 
Our indoor cycling bikes come with special pedals which have “Shimano SPD” on one side and “Look” on the other side with an adaptor cages for people using regular running or tennis shoes. Although both serve the same purpose when used I would recommend the Look pedal system over the Shimano SPD. The look happens to be about 4-5 times the size of the SPD cleat which gives the Look pedals bigger surface area. The wider surface area makes for better power transfer from your foot/shoe to the pedal. Furthermore, the bottom of the riders’ foot has a better grab of the pedal when riding which makes for better power output and more efficient use of the leg muscles.
Can I use “Look” cleats on indoor cycling bikes and keep my “SPD” for my road bike?
It is best if you ride the same pedal cleat system. Cycling is repetitive activity and the more consistent you are with your equipment the better, including riding the same bike for training as well as racing.
Does the highest price constitute the best product?
After years of buying products that I was happy with I made a decision to only buy products for our pro-shop that I would use my self. These products are not the cheapest or the most expensive, but rather the best based on all that is out there. So today in our pro-shop we only sell the best products that are not only great in comfort but practical and at a reasonable price.
You can email me your questions at: sassan@formfitness.net
Sassan
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