Chewin’ Fat: Body Transformation Blog
Complex Commentary (Part 1)
by Carter Schoffer
Back in June 2007, Alwyn Cosgrove penned a great piece for T-mag, aka T-nation aka T-muscle (forgive, me, I don’t recall which hat they were sporting at the time), championing the merits of Complexes for Fat Loss. Although not the first, fifth or five hundredth coach to support the approach, in typical Cosgrovian fashion, he did a smashing job of succinctly detailing when, why and how to implement these belly-devouring beasts.
Specifically, he provided 4 main reasons why one would implement these fat-feasting forays. The first of which, and the one I’d like to draw attention to, being a limited amount of time, space and/or equipment. Read that again. The number one reason why it’s advantageous to load up and stick with a single bar or make use of a single select training implement is because of limited available resources. You do it because that’s all you have; out of necessity you make the most out of scarce resources and you manage to do a commendable job working with what you have, countering the condition imposed compromise by emphasizing volume by variety.
Pretty straightforward that.
However, for some reason, the trend du jour is to overlook the scarcity requirement and self-impose the single-implement condition even when entire gyms are available. It seems a bit silly to me – not unlike using a hammer to drive in a screw when you have a fully equipped tool box at your disposal. In fact, more than that it seems short-sighted and, quite often, the result is a short-changed training effect – irrespective of how hard you or your client may be panting.
Fact: hyperventilating is the bastard stepchild of the inbred married-in uncle of the training-effect family.
Why is this a big deal? Because, more often than not, it means that an intensity disparity is created, rendering otherwise useful movements as workout filler.
Take a look at this common complex, for example –
Deadlift x 6
Bent-over row x 6
Power clean from hang x 6
Front squat x 6
Push press x 6
These are arguably 5 of the top 10 – 15 exercises one can perform but because load is determined by the weakest movement(s), at least 2 of them – the deadlift and front squat – are demoted to gap fillers. Two of the finest, and arguably most effective, exercises of the bunch, relegated to mediocrity. Why? Because deadlifting or front squatting for 6 what you can clean or push press for 6, barely registers as warm-up weight. The drive to self-impose a single load and/or a single resistance training implement takes what would otherwise be 5 super effective exercises and creates a bland soup of compromised effort.
Now I can’t say for sure why this self-imposed handcuffing takes place. Maybe it’s because of that same innate condition that leaves us mesmerized by the late-night infomercial spots where Item X can do 30 things poorly for just $9.95. Maybe it’s that. Or maybe, in many cases, it’s because of the arbitrary mandate that the bar, dumbbell or whatever instrument of choice being used, should never be put down.
Why not? Are we playing a video game? Is the reset button hit as soon as the bar touches the ground? Is it some form of metabolic hacky-sack? Do you return to being in a lazy sedentary state as soon as the weight hits the ground?
Sorry I must’ve missed the memo.
Look, I appreciate the spirit for the rule: keep training density and focus high by limiting transition time. But to what extreme and at what cost? Is it more advantageous to achieve Über smoothness at the expense of properly calibrated efforts or might it be more beneficial to open up the training toolbox while maintaining as much flow as possible?
Never a fan of rules – a wee bit of a rebellious streak in me, I must confess – I vote for the latter. Feel liberated by putting the bloody bar down, spitting on it and grabbing the right tool for the next phase of the job instead of making do with compromise.
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Thus concludes part 1 of this 3 part examination. In the next installment we’ll take a look at the importance of exercise order and rep allocation in complexes – another area many trainees and trainers fail to get quite right.
Tea Time
by Carter Schoffer
What do most people know or at least think they know about green tea? For the sake of this missive, two things. First that it’s apparently beneficial in a whole host of ways for one reason or another. And second that it tastes like piss. Or it at least reminds them of piss because of its urine tinge, warmness and less than palate-moistening effect.
Green Tea?
Okay, not all green tea has a urine tinge. Don’t overanalyze, just go with it. The point is, if you crave or enjoy green tea, you’re in the minority.
So keeping score, chalk that up to 1 checkmark for the good guys and 1 big X in the not so much column. Which for all you non-human behaviourists, computes out to — “green tea, you say? Nah, I think I’ll go for a cup of great tasting, diabetic lardass instead.”
This is a problem and it is indicative of an even bigger crisis — literally. People aren’t compelled by what is or isn’t healthy for them. They’re compelled by what’s convenient and immediately gratifying — “give me what feels and/or tastes good and do it now!” And this, my friends, is why Asia needs 4 Billion people – to collectively counter the weight of the 500 million North Americans that would otherwise weigh our planet out of orbit.
But I digress. Back to the topic, putting the above into current context, the translation is: STFU about green tea and how mighty it is until you can make it mouth watering.
Can this self-gratifying / self-destructive mindset be shaped into a more health aware, self-bettering one? Yes but it can’t be done with a single blog so, showing my own human nature, I’d rather provide a hack that will get you drinking and enjoying green tea in no time flat, saving me from the long hours of trying to help you see that your health is more important than primitive reward centre stimulation.
Enter the best damn tasting healthy beverage concoction you’ll likely come across today. For those of you that don’t enjoy green tea as well for those that do and similarly, for those of you that are proactive with your health and those that aren’t, this little combo is a dandy.
In a large tea pot (~1.5L) combine one bag or loose leaf serving of the following 3 teas -
- A quality plain green or white tea to serve as the base. (I like Matcha for this).
- A chai or chai-green blend
- A mint or mint-green blend
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Now add to these a medium to large cinnamon stick and a couple slices, or heck, a chunk of fresh ginger.
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Fill and throw on the kettle until the sound of the water deepens or let boil and then sit for a minute or two. In other words, you want it just short of boiling.
Yeah I know, what kind of vague instruction is that — heat until it makes a deeper sound — but it’s a helluva lot more practical than heat to 81.7° or whatever the heck made up number that’s bantered around by tea-shop hipsters these days.
Okay back on point. We’ve got the 3 teas, a cinnamon stick and some fresh ginger in a big ol’ pot – or a new one – and we’ve got some hot but not so freaking hot water. Now all we have to do is steep this bad boy. For how long? For as long as there’s fluid in the pot. You can make up a pot in the morning, afternoon or evening and sip away at it or make it up the night before, put it in the fridge and have it on hand for the next day.
I personally will go through 2 – 3 pots per day, adding a bag or serving of tea to the mix with each brew.
Why these teas and why cinnamon and ginger? Because, as you’ll find, the combo tastes really good. And not only are you benefitting from the green (or white) tea, you’re also getting a big boost from the super foods that cinnamon and ginger are, not to mention the mint and chai-spice combo.
Give it a try. I bet it just may make a green tea drinker out of you.
