Results matching “Bird”

In the Goals & Goal Setting gymchat we discussed our goals for the year; as well as various ways to set them. A fascinating conversation.
Although I didn't go into detail into the ones that fall outside the bounds of 'fitness & health', one of my own is to increase awareness of and support for various charities. One of these was noted in the post The Power of Transformation - Kiva.

Of course, we've mentioned several other charities over the years. The full list :

  • Athletes for a Cure : holds a number of events in order to raise money for research into Prostate Cancer.
  • Back On My Feet : using running to tackle complex issues such as homelessness.
  • Books 4 Tanzania : helping to re-distribute the books you're no longer using.
  • The Fitness4Charity group : collecting your second-hand equipment (mainly the larger items). If you're upgrading the home gym, give them a call.
  • Cancer Research UK, the Salvation Army : similar idea to Fitness4Charity. Especially for slightly smaller items.
  • Hands Across the Water : same idea as Shoe 4 Africa, just with books. Fantastic.
  • Heavy Athletics : it was Kat that first pointed me to Heavy Athletics, a group designed to change lives 'one rep at a time'.
  • Gazelle : recycling your old gadgets. If you're like me, and always seem to have an mp3 player attached to you when you train, take a look at Gazelle. They'll buy these older devices from you, taking away a lot of the 'will I, won't I' debate each time a new iPod comes out. Great company.
  • Kiva : microfinance for entrepreneurs (particularly the health- & fitness-related businesses
  • The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) : research into a range of blood cancers.
  • Rosetta@home : makes use of your computer's power (whenever you're not using it, that is) to help with various types of medical research. These assist everything from cancer treatments to Alzheimer's.
  • Shoe 4 Africa : if you enjoy an occasional run, chances are that you have several pairs of shoes that get infrequent use at best. Rather than let them sit and gather dust, consider giving them to an organisation like Shoe 4 Africa ; where they'll be cleaned up, sorted, and given to runners in the poorer parts of the world.
  • Soles 4 Souls : same idea as Shoe 4 Africa. Your old running shoes are donated to those who need them most.
  • Summit For Someone : is climbing your thing? Definitely.
  • SportsAid : provides financial assistance to young athletes (12-18yo) - both disabled and able-bodied - to enable them to compete at events around the UK.
  • Sport Relief : part of the Comic Relief charity, Sport Relief holds a number of sporting and fitness-related activities across the UK.
  • Blind Cafe : Personal Trainer Bill Kociaba offers online group training to blind clients via this site. For more information on what he does - and how - check out Gymchat 250 - Serious Training for Ignored Populations. Fascinating discussion.

NB : Many of these groups are on Twitter. You'll find the full list here :

https://twitter.com/scottbird/lists/giving

And if there are any you'd like to see added, just send me a tweet.

Of course, there are also many, many fitness-related fundraising events on the calendar each year. These offer a unique way to donate money, as typically you sponsor one of the athletes or teams involved. Examples include the MS Mud Run, the OXFAM Trailwalker and the Alzheimer's Society Himalayan Trek.

And if you'd like to help support Straight to the Bar itself - thank you! - you can do that here :

Cheers. It really is appreciated.

The forums are only 99c per year (although you can certainly pay more than that if you like *). For that you receive :


  • PDF versions of major articles.
  • Access to all newsletter archives (everyone else just sees the last 5 issues).
  • Advertising-free version of the Forums.
  • Access to all Forum areas
  • Strength & Inspirational Wallpapers.
  • Ability to post progress images.
  • Form review area.
  • Contests.
  • Discounts on training equipment.

The proceeds go toward the sponsorship of Grip & Strongman contests, donations to various fitness charities, the many training-related books I read and the general costs of running the site. All-in-all, it's a great deal.

To sign up :
  • once you've registered, log in and head over to your Control Panel (select the 'Forum Actions' menu directly beneath the page header, and click on 'General Settings')
  • click on 'Paid Subscriptions' in the sidebar on the left
  • choose the 'SttB Extra - Recurring' subscription for 99c per year (the one pictured)
  • follow the prompts to pay for it using PayPal
That's it. You'll get everything listed above, as well as a couple of bonuses we thought we'd keep, well, private. For members only. See you inside.

* For everyone who's been asking for ways to donate more to help with all of the above, here's a quick way to do just that :

Gymchat 152 - Leg Training - SttB Articles

A quick reminder about this week's gymchat - a discussion on Leg Training. Really looking forward to it.

When it comes to the lifting of heavy objects, the emphasis is often placed on the upper body. A little chest training, some back work, some work on the arms and perhaps a spot of grip.

And for many people, that's about it.

This week we'll be exploring the oft-overlooked - yet equally important - side of any decent lifting routine : leg training. Much more than just squats (though they're certainly a fantastic place to start), it'll actually provide many more benefits than pure size or strength.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Olympic athlete, personal trainer and nutritionist Maik Wiedenbach. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Leg Training
When : Wed Jan 18, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
Where : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/UBF8EyNEato

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.


Incidentally, to find out the details of upcoming discussions as soon as they're announced, grab the Strength & Fitness Newsletter. Absolutely free.

Where It All Began - SttB Articles

Today marks the 8th anniversary of Straight to the Bar (the first post was Re-Entering the World of Fitness), and to say I'm grateful is an understatement. Thank you for all of the comments, techniques, ideas and inspiration.
As examples of all of the above (and to show just how transformative a regular dose of training can be), here are just a few of the many stories we've shared here over the years. How the journey really began.

as well as a brief look at my own transformation.

Want more? No problem. We'll be publishing a few more of these stories over the next few months (and if you'd like to add yours, just let me know); a spot of inspiration for everyone who's just getting started. And if you are, welcome.

It really will change your life.

Monday, 16 Jan 2012 - Issues

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.




Video : UK Bar-barians London Parks (part 1)

I love training in public parks (especially this sort of thing), and the video below demonstrates some great ways to squeeze a little out of simple setups. Good stuff.




Gymchat 152 - Leg Training

When it comes to the lifting of heavy objects, the emphasis is often placed on the upper body. A little chest training, some back work, some work on the arms and perhaps a spot of grip.

And for many people, that's about it.

This week we'll be exploring the oft-overlooked - yet equally important - side of any decent lifting routine : leg training. Much more than just squats (though they're certainly a fantastic place to start), it'll actually provide many more benefits than pure size or strength.


Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Olympic athlete, personal trainer and nutritionist Maik Wiedenbach. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Leg Training
When : Wed Jan 18, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
Where : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/UBF8EyNEato

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.


Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Motivation. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.


Tip of the Week: Finding a Good Training Partner

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from last week's Gymchat on 'Motivation', and is part of a longer discussion of training partners. Enjoy.


Over to Roger :

Finding a good training partner is rough and really all depends on the persons temperament. Some like to train with someone who is far above them as motivation to get better while others like someone who is at their level or slightly beyond them, otherwise they get discouraged because the gap is so wide (a prime example of that negative self talk).

I would start by just searching the gym for someone who does a similar style of training (or something completely different if you're into to trying new things) that you do or someone who has attributes that you'd like to have (e.g. freaky strong, etc) and strike up a chat with them. You already have at least the gym in common, so start there.




Good stuff.


Looking Forward To : Drop Dead Healthy - One Man's Humble Quest for Bodily Perfection

As you can probably tell from the title, this is a humourous look at a very interesting subject - that of 'active health'. Things you can do to increase your own wellbeing.
The author, AJ Jacobs, outlines the book in his recent TED talk How healthy living nearly killed me; though the basic premise is summed up on the same site :


For a full year, A.J. Jacobs followed every piece of health advice he could -- from applying sunscreen by the shot glass to wearing a bicycle helmet while shopping.

It's an interesting idea, and whilst I wouldn't necessarily choose the same pieces of advice to explore, I like the overall concept of self-experimentation. Should be an interesting read.


Quick update on the superb Crush! DVD we noted a few weeks ago : fantastic.

Bill's posted a brief review here, but suffice to say that Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson's latest DVD is absolutely perfect. If you're ready to take your gripper work seriously, grab a copy of Crush!.

Monday, 9 Jan 2012 - Issues

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these : Also, thanks to everyone who's been asking about Kiva following the 'Power of Transformation' piece. It really is appreciated.

And for everyone who already knows how life-changing Kiva can be, join us on the Straight to the Bar Team.

See you there.


Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.


Video : The Traveling Mill

This is definitely the time of year for training outdoors (in this part of the world, anyway), and The Traveling Mill looks ideal. Nice and smooth.




Gymchat 151 - Motivation II

What is motivation? What role does it play in your training, and how can it be improved?
This week we're returning to this fascinating area; looking at things from a number of angles. What it is, how to get it, and how to use it to your advantage.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Personal Trainer Roger Lawson. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Motivation II
When : Wed Jan 11, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
How : Post a comment, question or reply
Where : https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/34XmDRqbZ8K

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.


Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Goals & Goal Setting. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.


Tip of the Week: Tracking What You Eat

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from the forum thread Training Logs : Database, Spreadsheet, Paper etc?, and - amongst other things - touches on the way that Derek records his food consumption. If you're ever looking to do the same thing - whether it's a permanent change or just for a few days - this is a great way to do it.


Over to Derek :

I use an excel spreadsheet which I keep on my blackberry to track the data. There are three tabs: Daily Log, Overview and Cheat Days.

The daily tab is the form I update regularly with the meals I'm eating that day. Each meal is broken down into fats, carbs and proteins. As long as I don't go over my total grams of food for the day, I have as much flexibility as I need in meal timing and meal composition. This page also has common foods I eat regularly, so I can just copy and paste.

Occasionally I need to adjust my calorie intake, so I'll switch over to the overview tab and plug in the numbers according to my goals. These days, I get roughly half my daily calorie intake from fats.

I allow myself the occasional day where I don't monitor my food and eat whatever I want. As an experiment, I'm limiting the total number of Unlimited Cheat Days to 21 per year. This is roughly one cheat day every two weeks. And because these Unlimited Cheat Days are built into the plan, I don't have to feel guilty about stuffing my face with cake, cookies and pasta--as long as I reel it in the next day.




Good stuff.


Checking Out : Iron Nation (Kindle Edition)

I'm really looking forward to this.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been catching up on quite a bit of reading, particularly of the various training-related books I inadvertently missed the first time around. Next on the list is a perfect example : Bob Whelan's Iron Nation.

Iron Nation is a compilation of training strategies from some of the heaviest players in the Iron Game. This is training the old-fashioned way - heavy weights, good food and plenty of recovery.


As a guide, here's a snippet from just one of the reviews on Amazon :

Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down. This is a fascinating, informative collection of articles and interviews from people with life-long dedication to training.

This book takes a different and interesting approach than most other books on training and physical development. These are "real life," nuts-and-bolts accounts of the approaches, life stories and workouts of some of the well-known and respected experts actively involved in strength training over a period of decades. They are incredibly inspiring and motivating stories of training, ranging from strength training to body building, and lifting, among others.

Perfect.

NB : this is the Kindle edition of the book, but it's also available in paperback. Whichever you prefer.


Quick update on the superb Crush! DVD we noted a few weeks ago : fantastic.

Bill's posted a brief review here, but suffice to say that Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson's latest DVD is absolutely perfect. If you're ready to take your gripper work seriously, grab a copy of Crush!.

Monday, 2 Jan 2012 - Issues

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.


Video : DIY Cable Machine

No cable machine available? Here's how to make your own.

Fantastic.

NB : it's a comprehensive video (it runs just under 20min); showing the entire process.


Gymchat 150 - Goals & Goal Setting

This is definitely the time of year to take stock of your life. To look at what you've been doing, and to set your goals for 2012.
This week we'll be taking a look at Goals & Goal Setting (in a fitness & health context, of course) - what to aim for, how to set targets, recording & measuring everything; as well as sharing ideas on your own goals for this year. Really looking forward to it.
Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Goals & Goal Setting
When : Wed Jan 4, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
Where: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/JhMXEv93yMo
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.


Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Getting Started. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript. Was a great one.


Tip of the Week: Constructing the Inner Shell

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the forums, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from Derek's superb article How to Build Your Own Sandbag; and looks at a simple way to build the sandbag's inner shell.


Over to Derek :

Inner Shells
Inner Shells.
Inner linings can be made out of contractor bags. Contractor bags are thicker than garbage bags and are used on construction sites for waste disposal. They come in various sizes, from 30 to 55 gallons, so find a size that works for your project. I used four 42-gallon contractor bags. I doubled-bagged the sacks and filled each with roughly 15lb of sand. Then I rolled each into neat little parcel and used packing tape to keep everything from exploding all over my rug.

One Inside the Other
One Inside the Other.
Leave room for the sand (or stones or shot) to move around inside your inner linings. About 3/4 full is good. The final product should shift and move as you use it. This is what makes sandbag training unique.

Good stuff.

Checking Out : The Precision Nutrition Fat Loss Crash Course

This looks superb.

If one of your goals is to shed a bit of excess fat, but you're not quite sure what to do/where to start, have a look at the Precision Nutrition Fat Loss Crash Course. Absolutely free.


This 5-day course goes through the basics of fat loss - no matter what your starting point is. Whether you're looking to lose a few pounds or a few hundred - without severely compromising your strength in the process - the Precision Nutrition Fat Loss Crash Course is the perfect place to start.

There are two versions (one for men, one for women), and you'll find the details here :

Fantastic information.


Quick update on the superb Crush! DVD we noted a few weeks ago : fantastic.

Bill's posted a brief review here, but suffice to say that Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson's latest DVD is absolutely perfect. If you're ready to take your gripper work seriously, grab a copy of Crush!.

The Power of Transformation - SttB Articles

If you've been training for a while, gradually cleaning up your diet, no doubt you've experienced the amazing power of transformation. It's a tremendous feeling.
Combined with that feeling is the the incredible satisfaction associated with helping someone else - whether that's in the form of financial assistance, giving them a hand overcoming a particular hurdle, or simply showing them a new way of doing something. Anything at all.

A few of the ways I like to blend these are the ones I mentioned in 'Giving it Away' and 'Giving it Away II' : essentially donating pre-loved training equipment to those without any of their own. I'd love to kick that up a notch (particularly at this time of year), and add some other forms of assistance to that list. First cab off the rank is my favourite micro-lending service, Kiva.

I first came across Kiva back in 2006, after reading about Matt Frame's 'handcuffed swimming in Cambodia' record. It's a service which let's you invest a relatively small amount of money (typically $25, which is still $25, but is small for a business loan) in a business somewhere in the world. I say 'invest' because it's a loan - you'll generally receive the money in full, several months later.

If you've got an extra dollar or two and would like to check out the details of what they do (and how), come and join me at :

http://www.kiva.org/team/straighttothebar

And thank you. Watching someone transform their life is truly incredible.

CRUSH DVD Review! - SttB Articles

I give a quick review of this AWESOME DVD by 'Napalm' Jedd Johnson. If you're looking to take your gripper training to the next level or you're just beginning, this is the one and only DVD out there you need to CRUSH anything!

Monday, 19 Dec 2011 - Issues

This Week on Straight to the Bar

I'm constantly amazed at just how much my training is influenced by the people on this site. Whether you're looking for a new piece of equipment, an unusual exercise variation or just an idea of how others approach things, you'll enjoy these :

Ready to add your own opinion, workout log or training article? Just head over to the Forums, Training Logs, or swing by the Article Submissions page. They're fantastic ways to share your ideas.


Video : Hub Juggling

Yep, he's a freak. Nice one Aaron.



Gymchat 149 - Getting Started

I love training; it's safe to say that these days it's a key aspect of my life. Can't get enough.
Still, if you're just considering embarking on this incredible journey, you may be wondering exactly where to begin. What equipment to use, how much space you need (if you're setting up a home gym), what to eat & drink; what to do. There are a lot of questions.

This week we'll be answering as many of them as possible. Discussing how to 'Get Started', no matter what your goals are. Sharing the information that helped us on our own journeys, as well as the things we've picked up along the way.

Helping us explore this fascinating topic is none other than Personal Trainer, Martial Artist and Strength Coach Chris Smith. Fantastic.


Details -

Who : Strength-training fans
Topic : Getting Started
When : Wed Dec 21, 9pm EDT (1am UTC)
Where: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113406428532094481598/posts/KhQHPQToBtq
How : Post a comment, question or reply

If you've never been to one of these discussions before, here's how to join in the fun. Simple, quick to set up and free.

And to see when it's on in your timezone, head over to the calendar.

See you there.


Quick update on last week's gymchat : Thanks once again to everyone who took part in the discussion on Training for Football II. Some superb ideas in there.

For those who missed out on the conversation, here's the transcript (PDF). Was a great one.


Tip of the Week: Re-Position your Thinking on Meal Composition

Each week we publish a number of tips and techniques via twitter, Google+, the blog; and now the newsletter. Wherever you are, there's always a way to improve what you're doing.

This tip comes to us from Methuselah's great article Transitioning to a Paleo Diet; and looks at Step 4 in the transition, Re-Position your Thinking on Meal Composition.


Over to Methuselah :

You have some meat, some vegetables and some brown stuff - this was how I heard a young child describe mealtimes on a recent documentary. Clearly it depends where you are in your transition as to how much and which types of brown stuff you have with your meals. But as you start to pick off the bad guys like rice and potatoes, you need to start seeing meals as meat and vegetables only.
The challenge is then to be inventive and use variety to keep things interesting. Ever eaten a rabbit? Lamb's hearts? Venison liver? Fresh Crab? There are hundreds of types of fish. Indeed there are hundreds of varieties of vegetables too. And with the potential to throw coconut, nuts, seeds and fruit into the bargain, suddenly pasta seems a little dull - mere padding. This is how you need to think. Exciting recipes for Paleo meals abound on the internet.

Takes a little getting used to, but the results are well worth it. Good stuff.

Checking Out : MILO

It's that time of year again.

Whether it's for yourself or as a gift, this is definitely the time of year to set up a magazine subscription or two. Paper or digital downloads; there are plenty to choose from.


Personally, I lean towards publications such as Ironmind's MILO (though as it's US-only, getting it delivered isn't exactly easy). How about you : what's on your magazine must-have list?


Quick update on the superb Crush! DVD we noted a couple of weeks ago : fantastic.

I'll post up a full review shortly, but suffice to say that Jedd 'Napalm' Johnson's latest DVD is absolutely perfect. If you're ready to take your gripper work seriously, grab a copy of Crush!.

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460  

Pages

Powered by Movable Type 5.2.7