COACH CYNDEE

I get asked about various things for weight loss such as diets, pills and potions all the time.  I have worked in the health, fitness, and supplement industry for over 20 years.  I am here to tell you there is no magic pill, potion, or fad diet that will get you skinny.  A few years back the HGH diet became popular.  People continued to ask me about it and I gave my opinion.  I don’t think any diet that limits you to 600 calories and no exercise is good. I don’t care what you are taking if you have to limit your food that much and not exercise its NOT good.  Sure enough EVERY single person I know that tried it lost weight and regained their weight and then some.  I was working in the supplement industry when the Atkins diet became popular.  It was a crazy phenomenon.  People were obsessed.  I knew it was a fad and gave people my person opinion on the diet.  Carbohydrates are good for you!  Yes in moder...

I wanted to quit many times during Ironman St. George. It was a true test of my limits.  This was the next day and I was glad I didn't! Today I ran 7 miles, Sunday I ran 8 miles.  Sunday I felt amazing like I could run fast and after 8 miles I still felt fresh.  Today I ran 7 miles and felt like I was running through honey.  Why can you feel so good one day and so bad a few days later?  It happens all the time running, biking and swimming.  It also happens to everyone.  I know exactly why I felt like I did today and I knew it was important to push through it......so I did even if it was painfully slow and hard to do.  There are a few reasons why my run was so bad today.  The past week I have had slight symptoms of getting sick.  A little runny nose, ears feel plugged, throat is a little scratchy.  The problem is I have felt pretty good for the most part. I don't really feel sick but I don't feel 100%.  Today it seems worse...

Even though I cramped in this race I finished! Many days my clients inspire me to write an article on various topics.  Today in the pool I had three clients that developed cramps in the pool and I was inspired to talk about muscle cramping.  In reviewing some information about endurance training and muscle cramping there are so many suggestions as to the cause.  There is not much proof of what causes it or what may help.  There are also many recommendations out there and I have my own suggestions as well.  I read that 30-59% of athletes suffer from muscle cramps.  One study said 59% and another said 30%.  Whichever is true I can tell you I am quite sure it is pretty high.  As a coach I see it daily. I think almost everyone has had it happen at least once during training.  Unfortunately many people suffer from this as an ongoing problem.  It can bring your training day or race to a halt if they are bad enough. The...