Houston Fitness Consultants - Fitness Talk

What Should I do....?

Dan Houston — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:23:50 GMT

Here it is, straight from the trainer's keyboard...the ultimate workout...the absolute best, the one that will help you accomplish all of your goals, free up hours of your schedule, save you money and make you popular....ready?

Of course not...am I the first one to tell you this is not going to be easy? After decades of new products, infomercials, modified designs, fitness gurus, internet training programs and the like, it seems like every single problem in the fitness industry has been answered, and by now it should be easy to figure out who is the best, what is the best, and what gets the best results.

One problem with that...everyone progresses at a different rate...everyone has a little different performance curve and learning curve...everyone has slightly different motivators and slightly different goals. The basics are all the same, but the small differences are the ones that make it hardest to tell YOU what is perfect and right for you.

BUT...

That doesn't mean that we can't help you find out a great place to start...and keep you on track so you can avoid plateaus...and introduce new exercises or more difficult or effective variations when you have progressed appropriately...or introduce you to specific training mesocycles and microcycles so you can vary the intensity based on specific goals and learned recovery behaviors...

We may not be in the bodybuilding world or competitive figure world...we are not professional athletes who live and die by our sponsors products...we are not beholden to any supplement companies...and we will be the first to tell you that a lot of the times, the old guys had it right...and a lot of the times, the new guys figured it out better.

The big difference in all this: The Chile Pepper Approach to Wellness and Fitness. No, you are not required to eat hot peppers to make progress (but it can help...a little)...but what WE help YOU do is match YOUR unique ability to tolerate "heat" (work) and YOUR unique recovery ability (how long it takes you to fully recover from a workout preventing burnout but re-stimulating the muscles before they get a chance to lose some progress) coupled with exercises that are designed to maximize YOUR range of motion, goals and limitations to create a balanced, thought out, optimized program.

All you have to do is....get started!

Food...Is it Addictive?

Dan Houston — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:56:02 GMT

Interesting topic this afternoon...Dr Oz had a couple experts on talking about whether food is addictive or not. We'd like to weigh in with our thoughts. They may not answer the actual question, but we hope it will help people understand why they react the way they do.

As far as the classical definition of "addictive", we cannot see that any natural foods can meet that claim. Foods as they are found in nature are satisfying, good for you, and contain micro-nutrients that can be of great benefit. But there is nothing in naturally occurring foods that we can see that qualifies as addictive, implying a chemical need or dependency. If you discontinue eating natural foods, you may miss the way they make you feel energized and satiated, but your body probably will not "crave" the foods chemically if they are out of your diet for too long.

Processed foods, on the other hand, DO trigger certain "cravings". Not necessarily chemical dependency cravings, but the type that makes people more suggestive to desiring them when they are deprived of them...using all sorts of clever tricks...nutrient combinations (lots of sugar and fat together makes it very satisfying on the tongue), additives, artificially enhanced colors, fragrances, clever marketing using music and images that stay in your mind and are easily triggered by similar images...lots of things.

The reason we say they are NOT truly addictive is that you will not suffer conventional withdrawal symptoms if you cannot have the foods. You may be angry, you may be disappointed, but unlikely you will have severe headaches, psychological pressure, etc. (we are not saying it is impossible, but we are saying it is unlikely). In most cases, there are a couple simple steps to take to see if you are really addicted or simply craving something. We will introduce one idea in today's blog, more over the next few days.

Number one. Think back to your goal sheet. (You DO have a goal sheet that you carry around with you, right??) Put that image in your head, and think hard about what it is you are craving...will that craving make it harder for you to reach your goal? Is there something you can have in place of that craving that will help you move towards your goal? Give it a try. If you feel okay without it, make a note and remember that the next time you feel that way. Remember, while 300 calories may not sound like much, it can add up to 30 lbs in a year...and you KNOW you don't want that! If you really feel like you HAVE the item, try to plan it in to your meal plan for the following day...make room for it, and enjoy it as part of your plan, not an obstacle to derail your efforts.

We'll be back with more tips tomorrow.

The Big Tough Question...

Dan Houston — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:06:50 GMT

What do you want from your exercise? Not an easy question answer...sure the basic "I want to tone up" or "I want to lose weight" answers usually pop up, but that is hardly ever the REAL reason people exercise. That is one of the benefits, to be sure, but what do you want from your exercise?

When we ask clients and prospects this question, they usually struggle for an answer...they want to tell us what they think WE want to hear...but not necessarily what THEY want to say.

As far as what we want from our exercise? Simple. We want to give our body a reason (and a stimulus) to change something. That's it. Plain and simple.

We want our body to think that it has to make a muscle a little stronger, or work more efficiently, or be able to endure more work before it gets tired. We want to make sure we feed our body exactly what it needs to meet its' energy demands, and we want to exceed those demands and force our body to look elsewhere for the energy to accomplish it. We want our body to become efficient by looking at stored bodyfat to supplement the energy consumption. Does that help simplify things?

Think about it when you head out to your next workout...what message do you want to send to your body? that it is just going through the motions? That you just need to move around a little so you won't feel guilty about not tracking your eating like you thought you would? Do you want it to break a little sweat?

Or do you want it to think that it is THIS close to being the efficient machine you need it to be...and that it has to learn through small but significant struggles and effort that it is capable of more than it thought it was yesterday...and who knows what wwe may think of it tomorrow?

Is it Really Winter?

Dan Houston — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:41:56 GMT

It's Winter...but it doesn't feel like it...! here in Michigan, we are seeing unusually warm weather for this time of year...as a matter of fact, we have only seen a couple days of snow..the ground is dry and the grass looks confused!

Days like these make it very tempting to get outside and run, jump, play and act like it is spring...but before you do, let's think about a couple things...

Number one...it is not really that warm out...and just because it LOOKS warm, that doesn't mean you're body wants to act like it's warm. When the air temp is around 35-40 degrees, even if it is sunny, it acts like an ice pack...it restricts blood flow and constricts blood vessels, which can lead to limited mobility and reduced range of motion on initial movement. In other words, your body is going to act like it is being cooled down with an ice pack, so you have to EASE into your activity...an extra couple minutes of light activity can make a big difference here. Ask anyone who has experienced a career ending achilles tendon tear in cold weather...

Number two: your body will lose heat faster in cold weather. While that may not be a bad thing, it does mean that you have to pay attention to your fluids. Drink a little more than you would if you were working out indoors...you may not feel like you are sweating as much, but you lose a lot of heat through respiration...it all adds up!

Number three: Combine active movements with active recovery...stopping to catch your breath or sitting down causes a rapid pooling of blood back to the abdominal cavity, which may signal to your body that you are done exercising...getting back up and moving around could cause a drop in blood pressure and surface temp resulting in lightheadedness, dizziness, light sensitivity.

Those are the three big ones to think about...when we get some snow, we'll open up another thread altogether...! Get out and keep working on those goals!

Is it January 4th Already??

Dan Houston — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:07:14 GMT

Is it january 4th already...? We can hear the groans...and the soft patter of little feet trying to climb back up on their resolution plan...

Relax.

Don't beat yourself up.

Get up...dust yourself off...look at your goal sheet...and hop back on. it's that easy.

So you think missing one workout is going to be a good enough reason to give up? You think one extra slice of pizza...or a candy bar gives you permission to call it a day and go back to your old ways? YOu think that, just because you didn't work out like the "Biggest Loser" you aren't worthy of experiencing success?

We don't buy it. Life happens. All the time. And to ALL of us.

Here is something to think about...there are basically four ways that you can come into a workout...

You can feel great...and have a great workout.
You can feel great...and not have a great workout.
You can feel not-so-great...and have a great workout.
and
You can feel not-so-great...and not have a great workout.

But you can still move forward. Listen to your body. Tell it what you want. make it listen to you. Make it work. Then let it recover.

even if you don't feel all that great when you go to hit the workout, you can still give your body something it can learn from...you may not set any personal records or shatter any illusions, but you can still work within your unique "recovery window"...it's just a matter of knowing what your heat level is, at that moment, and after.

That's what the Chile Pepper Approach is all about. We'll be introducing you to more in the next post....stay tuned...and have fun with your workouts!

Surviving 2012

Dan Houston — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:49:59 GMT

2012...it's here. Did it sneak up on you, or were waiting for it instead? More important, are you ready to make 2012 your best year ever, or is it going to be another year of missed opportunities and unfulfilled wishes?

The best way to look at 2012 is probably the same way you started 2011 (and 2010, 2009, 2008, etc). Make some goals, fire up the motivation and hang on...!

But, seriously, how did that work for you last year or the year before? How did you REALLY do on your goals? Did you really stick to your plan and make some great things happen? Or did you fall back into old habits when you realized that your goals may not have been the right goals for you...or that you had obstacles you did not account for that prevented you reaching them...or did you just not make your goals a priority like you know you should? At the end of the day, when you review your year, do you look at the year as a major step forward, a fall back or a "stuck in neutral" year...?

Let's commit to making 2012 a year of no excuses...a year of lofty goals accomplished...a battle we go into, expecting to win...and a chance to raise your flag proudly for not letting the year get the best of you.

We know the obstacles that can make goals nearly impossible....we know the science that can get in the way of progress...we know the common sense that flies in the face of what we are being told...we know how to set seemingly ridiculous goals and make them happen...and this year, we want to help you do it...over the next few days, we will be telling you what we set for ourselves last year; what we did and did not accomplish, and our plans on how we plan to fix those issues for 2012...and it is all about understanding our unique Chile Pepper Approach to Wellness...and it is a model you can use, starting day one! Stay tuned...and welcome to 2012!

Not as Easy as We Hoped....

Dan Houston — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:59:00 GMT

Making the big transition in a business is never easy...you can read all the articles, talk to all the experts, and sign all the forms, but the actual transition to "change" our business is going at a slower pace than we expected!

We have added Wellness Coahing to our list of certifications and accomplishments...we have been applying the principles and showing our clients that it not only works, it is MUCH eaier than we expected...so why are we NOT making the same transition in our business model? What could possibly be our excuse for why we are slow to "pull the trigger" on changing Houston Fitness Consultants?

Because we are still doing well with what got us here: The highest level of research, consistent results, fighting childhood obesity, teaching people how to eat and ENJOY their food, stimulate their metabolisms, and reach for new heights in their goals and their dreams. We do not want to walk away from what has helped literally thousands of people...

BUT....

We are almost there. Adding the high level of Wellness and Lifestyle Coaching fills in the last piece of the puzzle. It gives us the tools we need to make to make life changing programs for more people, and to walk more people towards the results they have fought so hard to achieve.

We live the active, healthy lifestyle we teach our clients...we do it by enjoying food, family, work, and having hobbies that allow us to be creative and tap into our inner artists. We live this way because it is what we want; we do not go around telling other people what they are doing wrong and try to force them to change, we do it by partnering with them and helping them find their way. We do it by staying healthy and strong, working the type of hours our clients have to work, showing them that it is not only possible, but absolutely achievable!

Keep watching...we are looking at a new, simpler website, more immediate contact, more seminars, more information we can share with YOU to help you make 2011 the first year of the best years of your life!

How do we Deal with this...?

Dan Houston — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 01:45:00 GMT

I read a statistic the other day (and looked further into it to confirm the validity of it over the last few days), and the article said that the world, at it's current rate of growth and consumption, will have to produce more food in the next 40 yrs than we have in the previous 8000 yrs to feed everyone.

Yikes. Think about that...

Due to increases in world population (especially in third world and under developed and developing nations), decrease in healthy water supplies, increased water consumption, more poor people, potentially drier and hotter summers, increased dis[parity between the wealthy nations and the poorer nations, it presents a bleak picture...

It has also been said that roughly one third of the world's population is overweight or obese, one third are starving, and the balance is fed close to correctly (it didn't get into whether the nutrients and quality of the food was good, but that uis a point for another discussion...).

Do we see part of the problem here? Too many without...too many with too much, and not enough ways to tilt the scales to a level playing field...this is not a political situation (although it always seems to turn out that way), but we could solve a lot of our problems if we ate the RIGHT amount, and kept ourselves from wasting the rest...it would be even better if the energy we saved by NOT wasting all that food and all those resources was used to help create better conditions for people that are starving for food and resources...this is not about sharing the wealth, or the redistribution of wealth..this is about not eating more than you need and then busting yourself out at the gym to try to burn it off just so you can break even on the scale...

It makes a lot more sense to eat 100 less calories a day than jog an extra mile, doesn't it? Especially when you start increasing the calories (300? 500? 1000?), and increasing the exercise (1 hr a day? 2 hrs a day? More...?)...makes paying attention to calories make a little more sense, doesn't it?

Hitting Close to Home...

Dan Houston — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:55:00 GMT

Some days just cause you to reflect more than others...

With Valentine's Day coming up tomorrow, it is easy to take certain things for granted...our relationships, our health, our families...it has been a stress filled year for most of our clients, and a lot of that stress has found it's way into our families...we are fortunate to have an outlet to deal with it. A lot of people, however, do not.

Do you have a plan for a sudden change in a family member's health?
Do you have a plan if there were a sudden change in your own health?
What are you doing about it? What are you doing for your health?

We had the opportunity to do a number of print and radio interviews this week, a guest speaking event, and even were recognized at the State of the County address by the County Executive, Mr L Brooks Patterson. We are fortunate that we have learned a lot, become epxerts in the fitness field, and have been able to help others take care of themselves in a more efficient and healthful way...but sometimes, no matter how well it seems like things are going, some days just cause you to reflect more than others.

Days like these make us realize we have to do more to help others...life is too short to not try to do everything you can...

back at it...and bringing it 100% in 2010

Dan Houston — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:57:00 GMT

It's 2010...and that means a new year, and another look at the goals and accomplishments...how did you do for 2009?

We spent too much time training...and not enough time teaching in 2009. We aim to change that this year...what does that mean to you?

More information, more product reviews, more answers to your fitness questions, and more info to help you make 2010 YOUR year.

We have a ton of things planned and in the works...speed camps, senior fitness programs, kids fitness, ebooks, downloadable posters and tracking guides, podcasts, video demonstrations, and comparisons...mentoring programs, conrinuing education programs...every one dedicated to helping you use the Chile Pepper Approach to Exercise to help you reach the goals that have eluded you...and discover new things about your abilities and set new limits for yourself.

Welcome aboard!

The Seminar Series that will answer ALL of your questions about Health and Fitness!

Dan Houston — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:47:00 GMT

We are underway with the 2009 Recession Buster Seminar Series!

The topics will all be posted on the website and reinforced thruout the week to let you know availability and location. Our first seminar in Auburn Hills was very well received and the beginning of what we hope will be a very productive spring for us, our clients, and everyone that attends.

We have also, for the first time EVER, put together an incentive to get off your keister and get to these seminars...not only are they filled with the type of information you are desperately looking for (and none of the stuff you don't want...), they are the ONLY way you can get entered into our Recession Buster Seminar Series Giveaway: a fully equipped home gym, with everything you need to have a great home workout without spending a dime! Not a penny! It is our way of giving back to our communities and to the people that trust us to help them reach their goals...we have been blessed and very fortunate the last few years and this is our way to thank the people that helped us to do it.

Look for the next few weeks seminars, and we will start offering the free tickets at our Spring Kickoff seminar next week. There are only a few ways to get the freebies...details will be here this week.

Get Motivated...and Turn up the Heat!

All the motivation needed....

Dan Houston — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:39:00 GMT

Every day, another headline, another health crisis, another scandal, another outrageous claim...how much do we REALLY need to see that will make us finally stand up and make a difference in our own lives?

Every "new" study hammers home the same points: Our country is too lazy, too fat, too slow, and too "dense" to figure out what we need to do. Every study confirms what we already suspected, but hoped was not true: that we are getting more overweight, more stressed, more anxious, and more desperate for help. This is referring to our health, but you can obviously see the parallels to other topics: morals, ethics, politics, work, community, crime....it is really easy to see why so many feel so helpless.

The saddest part of all is how people play on the desperation, the sadness and the fears by targeting these people with their "fix it quick" mentality and the classic "take a pill" plan. The more attempts made to improve our own situations using these methods, the deeper our self loathing becomes when we fail or stumble. Try to watch even 15 minutes of cable TV in the morning and watch the ads for all of the proof: "make extra money in minutes working at home", "get in supermodel shape in minutes with our dvd", "clean your colon and create perfect health", "what the doctors are keeping from you", "the ab device that guarantees prefect abs"...(these are all embellished claims, but parallel the actual claims I saw while documenting this blog this morning...).

Think about it for a minute: How many of these things have you fallen for? How much money have you, your friends, your family...how much has been spent trying to get the results these companies claim? How many diets have started and stopped and started again? How many fitness books and programs? And in the end, did you actually achieve what you set out to achieve? Are we really so desperate that we want to believe that some new exercise or type of juice holds all the answers to our problems; that there is some magic "move" that will unleash all of our potential? I am guessing only a small percentage of us have actually reached all of our goals...a very small percentage. A small percentage never give up, but a larger contingent is getting closer to just wanting to quit and wait for the "rescue" to arrive to save us.

The simple truth is this: we create our own success. We cannot control our environment, the market, our genetics, or our future. But we can influence our choices and our future. It may not always be what we set out to do, but in the end, most of our progress comes from getting up after being knocked down for the umpteenth time, dusting ourselves off, and getting back to work. Thousands of quotes have been attributed to this "never say die" attitude, knowing it is not going to be easy, but getting back to the fight anyway.

Not all of us are ever going to strike it rich, or make the cover of a magazine, or win the lottery. Most of us will never have the supermodel physique, or drive the super luxury car that we see and hear about...but that does not mean that we can't find some personal satisfaction in reaching our goals.

We work with our cleints regularly to help them set realistic, achievable goals. We let them know when they are close, and we let them know when they may be losing sight of what they planned. We help them redirect, and we listen when they start to question their abilities. Why? because we firmly believe that EVERYONE has the potential to do something reat, whether it is for themselves or for their family or for their community. Somewhere inside all of us is a strong, silent "superhero" that is waiting for their call to action. All of the negative ads, all of the unrealistic expectations keep this "hero" down, unable to rise up and accomplish.

We want to help you unleash your potential. We are going to be doing the same for ourselves. Let's not let 2009 knock us out of the fight. I am not ready to let someone else determine what I can or can't do (within the law, of course). We have found some exceptional tools that we are making available on our site to help you win this battle; join us and let's take the fight to the people that want us to give up...and show 'em a little attitude, American-style.

Metabolic Testing _why it can be the most important step you take

Dan Houston — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:54:00 GMT

If you have visited either of our studios or attended any of our seminars, you probably know we take a very scientific approach to fitness and wellness. Sometimes that means taking a point that we know runs counter to some of our medical professionals. One area where we feel strongly about this is in the area of determining RMR, or Resting Metabolic Rate testing.

The classic formula used by Dietitians is called the Harris-Benedict Formula, and can provide a very competent number for most people (people we would refer to as being part of the "normal metabolic bell curve"). The formula takes into account gender, age, height, weight; the usual variables. In most cases the formula can give you a good starting point, and if you are lucky, you can develop a fairly effective weight management program using this figure.

The problem we have found is that it does not take into account some of the metabolic differences that each individual may have: affected sleep, medications, exercise history, meal partitioning, body composition, thyroid function, etc. These factors can speed up or slow down an individual's metabolic rate, making the formula little more than a good guess. his can throw of the accuracy of the formula by up to 25%! Can you imagine dieting for a couple months and finding out you have been UNDEREATING for months, completely sabatoging your efforts to lose bodyfat (instead, you lost lean mass!!).

There is a method of measuring metabolism called "indirect calorimetry" and it actually measures a persons respiration and rate of energy transfer while breathing. The device can be called a BodyGem, a MedGem, or Korr system. Medical professionals can perform a test using a Douglas Bag/Cart, but the procedure would need to be prescribed or referred, the previous examples can be performed by specific individuals or businesses. Why does this matter?

We spend most of our day, it is assumed, at rest (requiring little more than maintanence energy expenditure). This is what resting metabolic rate refers to: the amount of energy your body needs to maintain normal metabolic function. Standard body temperature, respiration, heart rate, brain function, system function...all of these systems and needs require energy 24 hours a day. This is why RMR represents about 60-70% of a normal person's metabolic need; the rest is energy required for digestion, activities of daily living, stress, and exercise. Once you know exactly how much energy you need, it becomes a LOT easier to detrmine the correct amount for weight management.

This test has been montioned on a great new medical information show called "The Doctors", and RMR testing has also been mentioned in the previous month's issue of "Oprah". We offer the test, but more important, we know how to explain the number and what it means and how to use it. Shop around your area for practitioners offering the test, it should run less than 100.00 (we offer it for 50.00 outright, or 40.00 if you attend one of our seminars), and see if this can be the secret to reaching your goals for 2009 and beyond. Want proof? I determined my RMR using the H-B formula and I came up to 1670 calories per day...using the BodyGem, my reading is 2090. I would be undereating by 420 calories per day if I followed that number for my meal planning...I would lose close to 40 pounds of LEAN MASS in a year! No thanks!

Free Seminar series to get underway!

Dan Houston — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:32:00 GMT

The 2009 "Resolution Season" is underway...but with a little darker outlook than previous years. In the recent past, it was not uncommon to have a great sense of optimism and enthusiasm for the coming year, but this year, the economy is angry...and that is making it hard for people to get excited about anything!

We are coming to the rescue (kind of...). We have hosted FREE seminars on dozens of topics related to the fitness and wellness fields over the last five years. We usually do them for free as a service to the doctors we are partnered with, and we have gotten upwards of 125 people at some of them. The last two years, we cut back on the free seminars because, honestly, we got too busy to enjoy doing them.. A steady client base, developing and bringing to market our unique Global Warming Salsa Company (an eleven time national award winner in it's first year!), raising a puppy (Cayenne, the official mascot of Houston Fitness and the Chile Pepper approach to exercise), helping with our grandkids, etc, we just let ourselves get overwhelmed!

We realized it wasn't the seminars themselves that we didn't enjoy, it was the preparation and the planning. Having to find an appropriate room, submit information to the papers, print flyers, make sure we have 100+ copies of each form and handout took a lot of the fun out of doing them. We liked the crowds and the results were always positive, but exhausting by the time we were done.

We have changed our plan of attack for 2009. We are going to host the events at each of our studios (one in Highland/Milford and one in Clarkston), and they will be limited to class sizes of 10. We plan to fill them up very quickly, and we will likely add more event times rather than try to work with larger rooms of people. We have found that the more private, intimate setting encourages people to relax, socialize more afterwards, and be more assertive in asking questions. Plus, the biggest advantage of performing them at our studio is the ability to have everything we need in one place.

Our goal when we do these events is to TEACH, not to sell, and not to make people feel guilty about their choices and past activities (we have attended some where it almost seemd the speaker wanted you to feel inferior to them from the opening statement...never liked that approach!). We hope to inspire and motivate while at the same time making people THINK about their choices and empower themselves to get on a program...whether it is ours, working out at home, or taking it to the gym, we want to see people get the benefits of exercise. We are tired of hearing about the obesity epidemic and watching people try gimmick after gimmick after gimmick and never reach their goals.

We also expect to put video education tips from the seminars on our website (I am working on the greenscreen effect as we speak) in short snippets of REAL information, not just rehashed cliches. Look for the website updates by the end of January, and as always, we encourage you to submit your questions to us.

Watch our blog to see when and where we will be starting the events, and for signup information.

Oprah's Weight Gain...and how it applies to the rest of us

Dan Houston — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:47:00 GMT

It has been splattered all over the headlines for the last couple weeks, fingers have been pointed, blame has been thrown around, and support has come in from every direction at once...Oprah has come out and asked the question a lot of our clients ask: How did I let this happen?

Remember the fanfare associated with Oprah's original weight loss successes and failures. She recruited some of the best diet people and the brightest trainers in the world (primarily because she can!); they put forth a collaborative effort to help Oprah lose the weight with the goal of motivating millions and launching a REAL weight loss solution. Her crew was excellent, she had her workouts cooordinated by Bob Greene, a world class trainer and educator, her diets and weight management programs overseen by experts...and it worked. She lost the weight and promoted her success, and we in the training world applauded...but with the same reservation we hold for most of our clients: Would she be able to keep it off?

Just about everybody can lose weight with a common sense program and supervised care. In the real world (not "Oprah world"), we do not have the luxury of having people prepare our meals and show up at our homes for our workouts, and provide daily motivation and help overcome the stumbling blocks we all have to face in real life: stress, scheduling conflicts, poor meal choices, lack of good information WHEN we need it, confusing messages from the media and print...it is a wonder ANYONE can be successful working on their own. Even with these resources, Oprah found that she lost track of her goals...so do not punish yourself if you find youself in a similar situation (we know that Oprah wouldn't...she would plant her feet and dig in and get back on track!)

What are YOU doing this time to reach your goals? Same thing as before? Another "fad" diet or exercise program? Spending money on things that you may regret? Or are you assembling a plan: real, reachable realistic goals, finding a diet that promotes proper portion control and includes foods you like, an exercise program that creates a stimulus for change but still fits into your schedule and lifestyle? Surrounding yourself with people that want to support your efforts and help you reach your goals? Think about it...let us know what YOU are going to do different this time...

Richard...seriously, is that necessary?

Dan Houston — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:47:00 GMT

I was catching up on some paperwork, working on our 2009 business projects and saw one of our favorite topics come up on CNN: Children's Fintess and Childhood Obesity. The guest was Richard Simmons, the legendary fitness "guru" (not sure how the word "Guru" applies here, but he has done a tremendous amount to create and increase awareness in the fitness community) was speaking about how he felt when he saw overweight children...admirable and honest. It actually looked like good things were going to come out of this, he was promoting an intiative to President-elect Obama about childhood obesity (all good so far...Go Richard!...)

Then, at the conclusion of the interview, out of the blue, he starts kissing and molesting the leg of the CNN anchor...totally erasing any immediate memory of what he was talking about, and making himself (and possibly the entire fitness world...) look absolutely embarassing. I am sure he was trying to be funny, and maybe to some he was, but the total shock reaction from the people in the studio (and the victim) sets trainers back another couple steps on the evolutionary scale. I think that is my point; some of us trainers are out there, quietly trying to make people believe in the message about health and wellness thru education and information, and it seems that we have to keep battling our industry's image more than we should.

How many of you have ever thought "typical moron trainer" when you see one at the gym do something risky to their clients, or ogle themselves in the mirror, or talk trash to try to impress someone, or even make something up because they do not know the answer to a client question? I got into this business because I was frustrated with the massive amounts of misinformation out there: gimmicks that don't work, products that underperform, programs that hurt more than help, trainers overcharging their clients and delivering nothing...We are committed to exposing those issues this year.

Enough with the bad info, overpriced programs, misleading advertising...watch the blog for more on this (we are calling it "Counterpoint Fitness"), and we will be offering the ebook in the next couple weeks...sign up for our newsletter to keep posted on progress and receive free chapter downloads as it progresses...

2009: A New Year...a New You?!

Dan Houston — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 22:22:00 GMT

2009...here already! A chance to review, refresh, and recharge our goals. A chance to figure out what we did and didn't do last year. A chance to try something new...or keep doing what is working for us already.

What have you set for yourself for goals this year? Realistic and attainable? A restoration of former glory? What are you looking for this year: give it some SERIOUS thought this year. Even when the economy is bleak, you can always count on yourself...what can you make yourself do this year?

In a strange economy, writing down your goals, large and small, can go a long way towards keeping you focused and moving forward. I am undertaking a shot at program called The Magic One Hundred by Dax Moy, a gentleman featured on Oprah. Not only am I going to truly challenge myself, I am going to let people watch me, thru struggle and success, to see if I can commit to the program and what I can accomplish. Look for my highlights from My Magic One Hundred, my goals are pretty big for myself this year; running two businesses in a dismal economy presents some unusual challenges.

What are you looking to accomplish this year?!

Our BLOG and Ask the Trainer: what would you like to see here?

Dan Houston — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 04:18:00 GMT

A BLOG is a place to post articles, provide information and solicit discussions about specific topics. Our Houston Fitness Consultants BLOG will be (obviously) focused around fitness: diet, exercise, and health. We want to know:

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?

For example: topics would you like to discuss, health and fitness questions you want answered, etc. Please contact us directly via our contact page and we will begin creating a set of lively topics in this BLOG. Here is our contact page:

http://www.houstonfc.com/newsite/pages/contact_us/

NOTE: Your email address, name, and phone are NOT required. If you provide them, we will only contact you if you ask us to; it will not be used for any other purposes or shared with any other companies.

We're looking forward to hearing from you!

Dan Houston

If I have to choose just one form of exercise, what is considered the one best type?

Dan Houston — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 04:09:00 GMT

What is the best workout? Cardio? Weights? Sports? Yoga? Pilates? Exercise Ball? If I have to choose just one form of exercise, what is considered the one best type?

This is another popular question, and hardly anyone likes the simple answer. The simple answer is: There is no single best workout. Period. But why limit yourself to just one exercise? Please feel free to add your comments and let us know which workout works best for you!

All of the workout methods listed above offer conditioning benefits. They all also have limitations. Be cautious of a teacher/instructor/trainer who tries to tell you that certain established forms of exercise are a waste of time. Anything that motivates a person to participate in an activity safely has value.

There has been an ongoing senseless battle in the fitness industry regarding the “best” exercise. We have seen it for years, it ebbs and flows on a regular basis…aerobics people do not like weights, runners do not like bikes, bodybuilders do not like weight machines, spinners do not like yoga, etc. This machine is better than that one, this machine is a waste of time but this one is the ultimate answer to the fitness quest, etc.

We often wonder why there is so much competition between factions when the common goal is the same: Help people to get in better shape and enjoy the benefits of exercise by finding a program that becomes a part of their lifestyle.

A good trainer will encourage people to try many different training styles, classes, and activities. A really good trainer will feel confident that the client can enjoy ALL forms of exercise without limitation. The best trainers regularly challenge their clients to experience new things.

Breaking this down a little further, the ACSM has determined, based on thousands of published studies from the health and sports/fitness fields, that the best program encompasses REGULAR cardiovascular exercise (what is commonly, but often mistakenly called “aerobics”), resistance training, functional flexibility, and proper warm-up/cooldown when performing any of these activities. What does this mean to the potential participant?

It means finding a program you can stick to that gives you all of the benefits science and experience has proven are available to exercise participants. Better strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, awareness, improved recovery, bone density, cardiovascular health, more restful sleep, improved immune system function, and more. Is there any single form of exercise that can supply this level of benefit?

Cardiovascular exercise (treadmill, bike, aerobic classes, elliptical/crosstrainer, etc) helps in the endurance and heart health categories. Cardio exercise does not always help balance, flexibility or provide weight bearing benefit (outside of the thigh/hip region), and strength increases are difficult to measure with any accuracy. Higher intensity efforts (spinning, trail-running, etc) offer interval training benefits, but still do not include upper body strengthening or flexibility.

Yoga is very popular now, and can help flexibility, balance, muscular endurance (isometric strength), can improve recovery ability and help with stress management (positively affecting sleep and immune system). Yoga does not necessarily burn a lot of calories (around 180-250 per hour for 150 lb person), and works thru limited ranges of motion, but with little measurable benefit on full range muscular strength and anaerobic/aerobic capacity. Pilates addresses many of these issues, but has its own limitations with equipment requirements, technique considerations, and can be risky for people with back problems. Still, excellent modes of exercise, but not all-encompassing.

Weights (resistance training) can provide most, but not necessarily all, of the listed benefits when performed correctly. Weight bearing activity has proven benefits in maintaining lean mass, bone density, and has shown cardiovascular benefit similar to steady state cardio exercise. Endurance and strength can improve, and functional flexibility can be achieved when proper range of motion is explored. Progressive improvement can be addressed, providing a continuous adaptive response. You can get strength training benefits using just your bodyweight, simple household items, cheap weights, expensive weights, machines…whatever you have available. We have shown hundreds of people that they can get the full body exercise benefits they want using something as simple as a towel and a medicine ball. We have even trained people using a hill and a tree (don’t laugh…it can be very effective because of the angle of descent/ascent). But we do not recommend it as a stand-alone program.

Why not combine something from all of your exercise interests? The simple truth is that you should enjoy your exercise, and let other people enjoy their exercise. Anyone taking an active role in exercising, regardless of what form they pursue, is doing SOMETHING for themselves. Try to explore other possibilities rather than look for a single magic cure. Combine different modalities and techniques; find one that suits YOUR specific goals and interests. There is no rule that says that you HAVE to follow just one form of exercise. Combining techniques can actually give you more benefit in less time!

Bruce Lee probably did the best job of demonstrating this when he developed his Jeet Kune Do system of Martial Arts. He analyzed and tried every form and venture he could find. He found elements he liked in many of the forms, and also elements he felt were unnecessary. He gradually took the best pieces of all of the techniques and philosophies he encountered and created a system that broke with tradition, but addressed all the limitations he felt limited the progress of the participants. He had no allegiance to any system except the pursuit of the best system for his goals. He recognized the intelligence and experience of teachers and students, and “Absorbed What Is Useful” (a book title written by one of his star pupils after his untimely death). He also did not waste a lot of time criticizing other teachers. He challenged their methods, but respected their teaching.

It is probably safe to say that no one has ever achieved physical perfection following just one style of exercise. Top level athletes incorporate multiple training forms and techniques (Lance Armstrong, Terrell Owens, Roger Federer, etc). The Pilates method, if it were introduced today, would probably be much different from the method Joseph Pilates he developed. Science, technology, creativity…exercise is constantly evolving. People can be in great shape from anything active, whether it is construction, mountain biking, weight lifting, chopping down trees, swimming, etc. But when you find things you like to do that provide ALL of the exercise benefits you deserve, and fit within the time you have to commit to them, you have the makings of a personalized program that can provide you with all of the benefits exercise offers.

2007 goals: fitness and beyond -- share your thoughts and learn from others

Dan Houston — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 03:42:00 GMT

New year's goals: share your thoughts and learn from others
Welcome to 2007! Ah, it's time for the most traditional new year's resolution: better health, losing weight, and getting fit. I have posted below my initial thoughts about creating goals for 2007 -- and any year for that matter. Now we want to hear your goals, how you plan to achieve them, and what concerns you have about reaching them. Please use this BLOG to share your ideas and thoughts and learn from others; we hope to make the Houston Fitness BLOG an educational experience for everyone, including your trainers at Houston Fitness. To help move you forward quickly, we've posted some of our 2007 exercise promotions on www.HoustonFC.com.

Ringing In the New Year!
We hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy their holidays and think about what is important for them in this new year. Have you given any thought to how you are going to approach your goals this year? How did you do with your goals last year? Are you still looking for answers? We know just about everyone wants to lose weight, eat better, be healtheir, be happier, etc; but what are YOU going to do to make it happen? It can be pretty confusing and also rather frustrating when you do everything you think you should be doing and you do not see the results you are looking for...what did you find to be the hardest part of reaching those goals? Time? Diet? Stress? Injury?

Every year, we meet people anxious to get off to a great start, but almost 80% of them are done with their plan by Valentine's Day, only six weeks away. Why do you think that happens? Lack of support? Lack of time? Limited access to equipment?

Would you like to make it all happen this year? I will bet you would, especially if you find out that there are no gimmicks or gadgets required, no fad diets, no magic pills, and no marathon exercise sessions. Just a little planning, some hard work, some accountability, and a fresh way of looking at things.

Did you know that the weight crisis facing our country is preventable and reversible. The answers are not as hard as we fear, but they do require some effort. We will be anxious to help you reach your goals this year, and share our experience with you to get you on track towards a healthier and happier future.

How will you do it?
Please use the "write entry" buttons to post your feedback and ideas, and let's all learn together.