Random Thoughts of a Ranting Personal Trainer - Part III

1. The Sea Salt Test

Recently salt has been totally demonized by the media.  In fact, they go as far as to blame salt consumption for the epidemic of high blood pressure in North America.  In all honesty, salt probably doesn’t help the problem, but it most definitely isn’t the sole contributor.  Could it be that being overweight from inactivity and poor diet plays a role too?  Nah…it must be the salt.  After all, North Americans need a scapegoat.

In any case, salt does play important roles in the body and it does not need to be totally eliminated.  However, the source of the salt does matter.  Most salt sold in grocery stores is completely devoid of nutritional value so you might as well use it to salt your icy driveway.  Real sea salt, which is usually grayish in colour, is packed with 84 valuable elements that are stripped from our conventional table salt.

To determine if your salt is worthy of consumption try this test I learned from personal trainer Brendan Fox.

Stir a spoonful of salt into a glass and leave it overnight.  If you find the salt settled at the bottom the next morning your salt has been processed.  If there is no salt at the bottom of your glass, your salt is unprocessed.

If your salt is processed it will accumulate in your body much as it did in the glass.  If the salt is real unprocessed sea salt it will stay in solution and your body can effectively eliminate it after it has served its purpose.

2. At some point, your parents will pass away. Treasure the times you have with them. You probably won’t appreciate this advice until it’s too late.

3. A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. - George S. Patton

Most people put off their plan until next Monday when everything will be exactly right.  The bad news is that no weight loss plan is ever exactly right.  Start the journey TODAY…no matter what day it is.

4. The value of chiropractic care is highly underrated.

For some unknown reason people fear chiropractors.  This could be partially because many medical doctors denounce the use of chiropractic care, while they continue to dole out muscle relaxants, pain killers, and even harmful cortisone injections.  I guess this shouldn’t surprise me because they actually make money each time you visit them.  Why on earth would they want you to visit someone else?

In their defense, there are many doctors who have been brainwashed (just like the public) into thinking chiropractors practice some kind of voodoo medicine or that it is dangerous.  They probably think they’re doing you a service by telling you not to go, but most are commenting on something they know very little about.

Sometimes people tell me that they’ve heard something terrible that happened when someone they knew went to a chiropractor so they’d NEVER visit one.

To me this is faulty logic.

First, medical doctors are responsible for the death of plenty of people each year.  You probably still go to a doctor don’t you?

Second, just because one chiropractor is a quack doesn’t mean they all are.  It’s like this in any profession.  There are a few who are complete garbage, most are average, and a small minority are excellent.  You just need to seek out the ones at the top of their game.

I also think most people are just a little freaked out about the idea of being “cracked”.  The truth is that while most chiropractors still offer adjustments, the best ones usually have several methods of treatment available.  Many have ultrasound, cold laser, active release therapy, and acupuncture.

I was once told by a chiropractor friend of mine that “If the only tool you have in your toolbox is a hammer, everything starts to look like a nail.”  This is why most old school chiropractors just did adjustments.  That’s all they had.

Having more tools allows for better treatment of soft tissue injuries and joint pain caused by soft tissue problems.   I’ve personally had several issues treated over the years where no manipulation was necessary.  If you’re uncomfortable with it, just let them know and a good chiro will respect it.

In the end, if you’re in pain give a good chiropractor a fair shake.  It probably isn’t going to be fixed in one visit, but after a few visits you should feel some relief.  Whatever the case, you need not be afraid.  Get over your chirophobia!  It might just be one of the best things you’ll ever do for your body.

5. I hate excuses.

When it comes to fitness and weight loss someone can only give you the tools.  You have to bring your own motivation.  Do it or don’t.  I don’t have time for excuses.  There is always someone who has it much worse than you do who is making it happen.

6. If your goal is to be fit and healthy your exercise program should include:

Tissue quality work
Mobility work
Resistance training
Core work
Static stretching
Cardiovascular exercise

If you don’t know what these things are or how to implement them get the help of a fitness professional.

Add comment March 26th, 2008