From the category archives:

Bodybuilding Tips

A Career in the Fitness Industry is About Genuine Concern

by dailymuscle on October 6, 2007

I’ve been asked many times by many people, on what it is they should be looking for when choosing a Personal Trainer. There are many things that we should take into consideration - track record, experience, how comfortable you are with him/her, their techniques, certification… i could go on and on. But I believe that there is an underlying criteria that supercedes many of the above mentioned criteria. Besides the credentials & certifications, what differentiates one Personal Trainer from the other?

A personal trainer can have all the experience in the world, countless fancy exercise routines, but if he or she does not have the GENUINE CONCERN for that person who comes to them for help… then it is truly a disappointment. A personal trainer needs to be able to put themselves in the shoes of their client - to understand what it is they really want, to connect with them, and to speak into their lives. As we all know, Fitness is a Lifestyle, and not just a hobby or a trend, and this is exactly why it needs a much deeper and significant approach for it to make an impact and a lasting impression/difference in the life of the person.

Take this Quiz.

Name the ten wealthiest men in the world.

Name the last ten Heisman trophy winners.

Name the last ten winners of the Miss America contest.

Name eight people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

How about the last ten Academy Award winners for best picture or the last decade’s worth of World Series winners?

How did you do? I didn’t do well either. With the exception of you trivia hounds, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday too well. Surprising how quickly we forget, isn’t it? And what I’ve mentioned above are no second-rate achievements. These are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one.

Think of three people you enjoy spending time with.

Name ten people who have taught you something worthwhile.

Name five friends who have helped you in a difficult time.

List a few teachers who have aided your journey through school.

Name half-a-dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier? It was for me, too.
The lesson? The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern.

From And the Angels Were Silent
Copyright 1992, Max Lucado

{ 2 comments }

Personal Training Sessions - Is It Worth My Money?

by dailymuscle on October 1, 2007

Hi! I’m new in this website. Found it through surfing. And I think I need some advise regarding Personal Training. I’m not sure whether this is the place for me to write my concern… but since I saw the ’submit comment’, I might as well try!

I’ve joined a local gym few months back, and am now undergoing Personal Training sessions. My session is soon to expire. Now I’m in dilemma - my PT session is 1 month (total of 12 sessions) and the cost is about RM1200, which is very expensive for me. I dunno why the hell I joined in the first hand. Maybe because it’s been my dream to get 6 pack abs (or at least flat abs) since I was 17 years old. (I’m now 26) However, I’m amazed with the results coz I have a flatter stomach right now, which I’m very proud of! :)

Second is, I like the motivation which the PT gives me. He really motivates me to go to the gym and I don’t want to spoil the ‘momentum’ of going to the gym 3 times a week. I’m not sure whether I will go to the gym 3 times a week after my PT session expired. Then I’ll go back flabby again. After 1 month hard work-out, everything will be back in the drain again.

But, to renew my session means to pay another RM1200! Do you think it’s worth it? Do you think I should continue?

mary jane [click to continue...]

{ 10 comments }

Exercising During Ramadan

by dailymuscle on September 12, 2007

Dates at RamadanLast year, I wrote about Keeping Fitness Levels And Our Physique In Check During The Fasting Month of Ramadan. But hey.. there’s only so much I can say as I’m not a Muslim and have personally never experienced such a fast and it’s impact to my workouts, so this time, I’ve decided to get some input from someone who has.

Exercising During Ramadan
By Mohd Shazly Khan

Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Maghrib, is due. They eat before the sun comes up at a certain time and after a certain time during the night.

Its very obvious that the coming month will create a buzz for those who would like to continue working out. The common misconception is to cut back totally on our workout and resume only after Hari Raya (also Hari Raya Puasa, literally “Fasting Day of Celebration”, the Malay term for the Muslim festival of Eid ul-Fitr).
However I would like to think of it differently. Please note that these steps that I’m going to suggest works well for me, so it may not necessarily work as well for you. My best advice is to listen to your body.

For me, its not really a question of “Should I train?” or not but rather what kind of workout and at what time I should do it. It is as straightforward as that. Some would doubt if cardio workouts are advisable since the body lacks water (fasting can make us dehydrated, symptoms are like fatigue, dizziness & headache). I would think of it differently, since the absence of glycogen due to fasting, then the opportunity to burn some fat should not go to waste. The only thing that we should make sure is not to over strain and stop immediately if we feel light headed. If we time our workouts properly, i.e few hours prior to breaking fast, we will be able to refuel shortly thereafter. We should avoid high impact sports during the day as we are not in the condition to endure performance sports.

The other good time to workout is after breaking fast. However this is not applicable if you have just eaten a cow or something equivalent to it. Get the point? Be sure to consume small portions and stick to foods that are easily digested . Let me remind myself and all of you out there, that Mutton or Lamb are definitely not easy to digest. However, feel good to understand that digestion alone can consume up to 40% of our calorie output. [click to continue...]

{ 33 comments }

My Right Arm is Stronger Than My Left Arm

by dailymuscle on July 31, 2007

Hi DM

I am currently gyming and have a problem. I can lift more in my right arm than my left. So when I do dumbell curls, I still feel like I have alot of energy for another 4 or 5 in my right arm, but my left arm is dead. What do u suggest?

Matthew

Hey Matthew,

Most people can lift more with their right arm than their left, simply because most of us are naturally right-handed. Similarly, left-handed people would usually be able to lift more with their left arm. So, most people have a slight imbalance to begin with when they first start bodybuilding. [click to continue...]

{ 13 comments }

Having Jennifer Aniston’s Thin, Toned Arms

by dailymuscle on July 3, 2007

Jennifer Aniston - GQ MagazineDear DM,

I’ve been obsessed about having thin, toned arms - exactly like Jennifer Aniston’s for ages now. I first tried weights (in balance with cardio), but gave up after really unsatisfying results. Then I cut out all fat from my diet and subsequently lost a lot of weight. Yet, my arms never changed, and when they are straight by my sides the wobbly underarm squashes out so that my arm looks flabby and big. PLEASE can you advise me on a routine that will eventually give me arms like Jen’s. Whenever I think about my arms it gets me down, and I really can’t afford to lose anymore weight. Thanks.

bARMy

Dear bARMy,

Jennifer Aniston does have really great arms… and the fact that she flaunts it alot kinda tells you that she herself knows they look good. But you know, I’m pretty sure that it came with a price - and for the price she paid… she deserves it. Perseverance, determination, effort, and watching what you eat should all form the foundation of what you do. [click to continue...]

{ 9 comments }

← Older Entries

Newer Entries →