March Madness

March Madness is upon us, the brackets were set up yesterday and everyone is getting their picks ready. Whether your team made the cut or not March Madness is a basketball fans dream. Just about every night you can tune into a great game, the atmosphere alone can change a casual fan into a fanatic.

Now I am a huge basketball fan to begin with. I play all the time, follow both college and the NBA players and of course train to become a better player. I think the first thing you realize when you start to train for a specific sports is that it takes a little more time and knowledge to prepare your workouts. For basketball you have to be explosive and quick in everything you do.

For those of you who are not training to become pro athletes, this is still a great time to get out and pick up a ball. Basketball is a great way to get into shape without counting the seconds till your run is done. I have included a couple great workouts for those who want to improve your game.

If you are interested in getting trained and improving your game, give me a call. I have had experience in training basketball players and actually have one of my past clients playing for a NBA team right now.

March Madness workout

Tips to create a healthier you

I am about to give you 100 tips on how to get into the best shape of your life, and when I say I, what I really mean is me through Men's Health. This list gives you tips on lifting, cardio, sports, diet, injury prevention and much more. Take a look and see if you can use at least three tips per week. My bet is you will become a more healthy, happier you.

100 Best Fitness Tips

Focus - Who's got it?

I just read an interesting article on focus dealing with what focus really is and who really focuses during their profession. The article seems to feel that fear is what brings out true focus, while I do agree that fear will force you to focus I would disagree that being focused is simply defying death.

The article uses examples of athletes making a catch, or hitting a basket and says that completion of these tasks are nothing more than competence. While it is true that athletes are paid to successfully do those things, I would say that it takes focus to successfully complete those tasks. It took extreme focus for Michael Jordan to hit the game winner to beat the Utah Jazz and bring home his 6th championship. I would say it took extreme focus for Tiger Woods to hit a 24 foot putt to win his 5th PGA tour event. Well, who knows what was going through his head but you'd hope it was focus on the game.

I linked the article below. Take a look and see what you think and how you feel about what "focus" really is.

What is "Focus"

Exercise - Does it have to hurt?

One of the main complaints I hear is about having to do cardio. Many people hate running or biking but feel like those are the only ways to get a good cardio workout. While it may seem like you have to be miserable to burn calories, that is just not the case.

I think the key to a successful cardio program is finding something you like to do. For me it's basketball. I can't imagine being happy about having to run for hours every week, but I love basketball and can play it for hours which helps me stay in shape. I also like to swim, so with those two cardio options I am able to have fun, enjoy my workouts and stay in great shape.

If you are struggling with getting your cardio in, try doing something you enjoy: dancing, running with your dog, kickboxing, taking an aerobics class, snowboarding or water skiing. These are all great ways to burn calories and have fun at the same time.

Remember, fitness needs to be a lifestyle to make a difference and be sustainable.

Beat the "resolution rush!"

People are still in full swing with their New Years fitness resolution which means that the gym is a mad house. I was talking with a friend yesterday about how frustrating it was to have to wait for a treadmill, or to have your bench stolen when go for a drink of water. I also get the feeling that I am cornered in by a whole bunch of people who have no clue what they are doing. I like to have my space when I workout.

There are two things you can do to solve this problem. First you can take the month off and come back when everyone has decided that working out is just to much of a burden. I would not recommend this one. Second you could just change your workout a bit. If all the bikes and treadmills are taken, go for a swim or a jog on the track. If you can't get a good lift in try doing a body weight routine, its harder than you think. Adapt to the circumstance, change things up for a bit and who knows...you may find something that you enjoy even more than your previous workout.

This article gives some good tips on dealing with a crowded gym.

Dealing with a crowded gym