Four great articles by Charles Poliquin today on weight loss.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Here’s two great tongue-in-cheek stabs at modern life…(click on each to view in full)

If you want one easy tip to keep lean and improve energy levels for the first half of every day, then I suggest having meat and nuts for breakfast.

It is important to rotate the type of meat and nuts you have each morning, to stop any food sensitivities being developed.

Here’s a link to a great article by Charles Poliquin which explains it and its benefits in greater detail:

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=270

Great video featured on TED.com about controlling cancer via the diet.

The theory is based on the premise of controlling Angiogenesis, the process by which new blood vessels are formed.

The outcome is to eat more veg, which I think has always been great advice.

I despise so called “coaches” who willingly take risks with their athletes health in order to chase glory for either their own or the athlete’s ego.

One case this past week of a female fighter being made to lose 1 1/2 stone in the 4 weeks before a fight so that she can fight a weight-class below in order to go for a “title”.

How was this achieved? Running in cling-film and borderline starvation.

The result? A lost fight and a mentally and physically damaged fighter.

There’s a good chance her menstrual cycle will be damaged – a concern for any woman dropping to single digit body-fat levels in such a quick-fix, bullshit way.

I don’t know what angers me more the fact it happened, or that it happened via an experienced coach who I had in high esteem because of their experience.

If the fighter has to cut that much weight just prior to a fight either they are in the wrong weight class (as in this case) or they need to re-assess their nutrition the other 11 months of the year.

I would like to say this is isolated, but a similar thing occurred recently when BJ Benn had to cut weight at short notice at UFC:112 to fight Frankie Edgar. In this case I think it was more about bad nutrition the rest of the year.

That’s my rant over…for now.

The argument between organic vs. non-organic produce for health benefits, is a complicated one.

I personally have always believed you need to base your decision on a case-by-case basis, rather than simply join one camp or the other.

I tend to buy organic meat and animal products, ideally locally produced, with a mind for the welfare of the animal I am about to eat.

Whereas with my fruit and veg I tend to assess the distance it has travelled and whether or not it is in season.

The major disadvantage with eating organic products is of course the price, which are usually but not always,  more expensive than traditionally grown produce.

Luckily the people at www.foodnews.org have conducted a study into the least and most contaminated produce.  So that you can buy the “clean 15″ as non-organic and avoid the “Dirty Dozen” which have the most contaminants when farmed non-organically, thereby cutting back on the food bill.

Here’s Shaun from Underground Wellness to explain more:

I’ve encountered a lot of people this week complaining that they are too old to get in shape or that “middle-aged spread is enevitable”.

I tend to belong to the school of thought that age is a number, not an excuse.

To prove my point, here are two examples that would even shame most people under 30.

Jim Shaffer

A regular trainer, now well into his 70′s.  Jim is a great example of dedication and inspiration.

Ernestine Shepherd

There’s no excuse for you women either.

Here is Ernestine Shepard winning competitions and running 80 miles a week at 73 years young!

There’s more about Ernestine’s story at ABCnews.go.com

Two truly inspirational people who refuse to let their age determine their possibilities.

A great talk by Michael Specter on the dangers of science denial.

Filmed a brand new video today on using Foam Rolling to facilitate Self-Myofascial Release in the connective, fascial tissue that surrounds muscles.

I think foam rolls are a great, simple, cheap and effective tool to aid with body-management and mainting a robust foundation for everyday movement.

One of the worst areas I find in most clients and athletes is the TFL/IT band area at the side of the thigh – if you’ve ever tried it you’ll know exactly what I mean!

Great video today, that outlines a solution to the problem of getting access to fresh vegetables in large cities – by growing them yourself using a windowfarm with minimal set-up costs.

I love “outside the box” thinking like this, especially when its effect is maximised by embracing the global reach of the Internet.

For more information you can visit the windowfarms website at www.windowfarms.org