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March 22, 2005

Just because you show up to the game...

It's been killing me to watch all the effort put out by fat people to not put any effort out. Just because you show up for the game doen't mean you're going to win. The same thing goes for you at the gym. Too many people go to the gym just to say the go. Very little effort is actually put forth to acheive their fitness goals. The key part of the word workout is "work", which in my book is strenuous physical activity, were the body feels like it's been exhausted. Kind of like a hard day at work.

Posted by Rocco at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

March 20, 2005

French Women Don't Get Fat! Neither should American Woman

I read an article today by an idiot named Susan Sprano a journalist for The Seattle Times. The article is about a new book called
"French Woman Don't Get Fat", (it's actually a very good book even though I don't like French people). The reporter goes on to say that Americans are fat because of low income and low cost food options. This is were the idiot part comes in. When you buy fresh produce,vegetables, poultry and fish it isn't that expensive. It's actually more expensive per day to buy fast food. I can't stand when repoters use there reporting power to make excuses for why we can't keep our weight down. Susan quit making excuses and take the time to do real research and you'll see that getting in the ritual of shopping and eating better will be more satisfying and less weighty.

Posted by Rocco at 06:03 PM | Comments (8)

March 16, 2005

When did we become so stupid?

Is it me or did my generation lose it's mind in the eighties. I guess it must have been all the partying we did. We knew how to eat right back then now our kids are going to school and it seems like we forgot what we learned in Home Economics & Health class. Besides learning that men and women have different parts, we learned how to eat and what was good and what was bad to eat. Have ou brains gotten soft with age? Aren't we supposed to get smarter as we get older? Parents of the eighties get a f***in grip. The food pyrimid is still a good thing and let's get back to cooking for our kids. I have been training Twenty something girls and guys for sometime now and guess what? The crop we have now can not cook for themselves, they eat like shit and it's our responsibility to teach them to fend for themselves. Whatever happened to eating together as a family are we that disconnected. Can we get back to basics?

Posted by Rocco at 05:37 PM | Comments (0)

March 15, 2005

There is no "FAT" gene.

What the hell is wrong with people? When are researchers going to stop wasting our hard earned money on stupid and ridiculous research on mice and other animals trying to find a "FAT" gene. Yes, there may be people out there with the propensity to get fat but that doesn't mean that it is the natural course of their life. If you do lean to the thick side then it is your duty to keep the fat off. It may feel like an albatross around your waist but everyone has a cross to bear, your's happens to be fat. Embrace it and take responsibilty for your own health. Stop eating like you were going to the chair and get out and exercise. And if your excuse is that you don't have the time then, O.K., just die then. Or make the time.

Posted by Rocco at 05:30 PM | Comments (2)

March 12, 2005

Living in Fat America

Everywhere you turn nowadays there's something in the news about obesity. The causes seem to be many but what no one has brought to our attention is that fat is a symptom of America's condition of complacency. Our society has rewarded its people for mediocrity. No one strives for exellence anymore. Just getting by or doing enough to make the grade is what being an American is all about anymore. We're coddled and conditioned to blame everyone else for what we have done to ourselves. Being fat is allowing your self to bask in this mediocrity. If we believe in bringing our "A" game to our daily life there is no room for fat. I don't care what anyone says you can not be fat and happy. Fat always brings you to an unhappy place. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness, I don't see any reference to fat being part of that mantra. Let's get off of our asses and make America stronger by getting the fat off of our back.

Posted by Rocco at 04:52 PM | Comments (5)

March 10, 2005

Parents need to learn a lesson.

A friend of mine since high school called me up the other day to ask me a question. He said, Rock I got an askROCCO question for you. Do you take them over the phone or just by e-mail. I told my friend to stop breaking my balls and get on with the question. His question stopped me in my tracks. He asked me what his son who is 11 years old should be doing to gain more muscle, because the kids his age are much heavier and bigger than him. He happens to be tall and thin and a great athlete, but his father is afraid he may get trampled. Which quite possibly could happen. The first thing I told him was to make sure he's eating everything in site. He's obviously growing and most kids ned more fat when their growing than adults. Second, get him doing bodyweight resistence exercise such as Jumping Jacks, Pushups, Pull ups, Squats, and Situps. Contrary to popular belief young kids can do weight bearing exercise, they just can't do crazy powerlifting workouts.

Posted by Rocco at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2005

Beauty Queens leave in three weeks.

Anyone who knows me knows that one of the populations I train are beauty queens. There's probably a million jokes you can tell about them but one you can't, is how hard these girls work. When I got started helping these girls I thought most of them were little diva, prima donnas and I wanted nothing to do with them. Five years later I'm still training them but not without some difficulty. There were some who thought they knew it all and when they got to Nationals found out the hard way that they didn't know shit. This years crop of girls have shown that it is tough being a beauty queen. The workouts I give them suck, but they suck it up and realize as in anything you want bad enough it takes a little pain to get there. I am very pround of them and wish them the best of luck. Go Miss Michigan USA, Miss Maine USA and Miss Vermont USA. See you at Nationals!

Posted by Rocco at 12:20 PM | Comments (1)

March 08, 2005

"FAT actress" Kirstie Alley trying to re-invent herself

Yes, you can find so much humor in fat and fat people, but I think Kirstie is just plain fat and stupid. She refuses to lose the fat so now lets make it alright to be fat as long as we make fun of ourselves. It is not all right to be fat. Actually it's pretty damn stupid, with all the diseases and problems that being fat causes. Hopefully the people in TV land won't get sucked in and make this a big hit. We as Americans need to not find solice in being fat we need to start rebelling against it. Viva! La Revolution! or something like that.

Posted by Rocco at 06:29 PM | Comments (1)

March 07, 2005

PETA Please shut the F*** up!

PETA is now accusing parents of child abuse if they feed there kids meat. Now, PETA needs to step back and realize that there NAZI style propaganda needs to stop. I love animals and wish there wasn't cruelty towards them. I have beaten up my share of animal abusers. Feeding meat to kids is not child abuse, allowing kids to get fat is. Meat does not cause kids to get fat, overeating does. An over abundance of calories causes fatness. If you ate vegatables by the boatload it would cause you to become fat also. PETA don't use scare tactics to keep people from eating meat. Let's try to get people to move their collective asses and maybe no one would give a rat's ass but you about getting fat because they wouldn't. I know someday some stupid idiot from PETA is going to throw blood at me during one of my seminars and when they do, I'll throw a steak at them. I think that will really gross them out.

Posted by Rocco at 07:15 PM | Comments (2)

March 06, 2005

I decided to post someone else's comments from askROCCO

Hey Rocco,
I think we touched base much earlier in the year, I was bustin your balls over your XL shirt. Anyways, I just have to respond to this kid from India with "no time" to workout. Either you want it, or you don't. Besides working 50 hours a week at a bank, and I also attend night school full time (4 classes per semester). Basically, I get off work and head to school, then get home about 9pm. Then what? The gym is what, about 3 to 4 nights a week and once on the weekend. I usually workout from 9:30 to 11 or so, then eat and hit the shower. Yea I know it's bad to eat that late at night but I have no problems with weight gain in bad areas, I do enough cardio to combat that. I'm not single either, I have a wife and kid, and ride/race motorcycles on weekends. So, the problem is not enough time.... It's time management and the desire to be in shape. Some people are too lazy to get up off their asses and take a simple walk outside, but they complain of their lovehandles and shortness of breath. It's amazing, you can go just about anywhere and you'll be surrounded by 75% of people that are overweight. Its outrageous. More of them should start listening to you, and start taking action for their own sake.

Posted by Rocco at 06:44 PM | Comments (0)

March 05, 2005

Emotional Crisis... exercise as a healing opportunity!

I try not to get to personal on this blog because I don't think many people want to delve into my crazy life. But very recently I have been going through a major emotional crisis. One that involves the extreme stress as a result of issues surrounding the self sabotage of my own success. I don't bring this up for anyone to give me pointers or knee jerk psychology, I bring it to your attention because I know first hand how hard it is to create a healthy environment while your engulfed in an unhealthy emotional crisis. The first thing to go is anything that may have a positive influence on your life; people, exercise, descent foods and your spirituality. You tend to isolate yourself in misery and the hole you dug for yourself seems insurmountable. In my own journey I have come to understand that hope only finds itself in the consistancy of a directed well thought out plan. That plan needs to include oxygen replenishment on a daily basis, without exercise we can not allow the body to do what it does best; heal itself and get stronger. Moving your body helps to expell all toxic waste including emotional toxins. It allows the body to begin a healing process and provides the physical support system for emotional healing and the momentum to move forward.

Posted by Rocco at 05:34 PM | Comments (0)

March 04, 2005

Testosterone Enhancers... good or bad?

Occasionally I will get questions that piss me off and I can't talk about them on the radio or in my weekly column. So I can rant about them here. The question asked, was what did I think of testosterone enhancers? This subject always disturbs me because I can't imagine anyone wanting to screw with the chemistry of there own body. Especially when buying something from a magazine ad with no real research behind it. Most of the stuff that claims it does something in the supplement world, really doesn't. Most of this is sold to 16 year old kids with crazy pipe dreams sold by steriods heads that these kids want to emulate. Usually 16-22 years olds (the targeted demographic) already has enough testosterone flowing through their veins to get them to where they need to be health and fitness wise. Maybe it's me but whatever happened to working hard and eating the calories to build the body you want. Remember something's gotta give when you force a result and adverse symptoms will not be far behind.

Posted by Rocco at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)

March 01, 2005

Ahhh... Spring is around the corner.

With spring comes the emotional attachment to fat hiding clothes. So afraid are we to begin the digging through of closets for that hot swimsuit or flesh revealing outfit that we only look in the mirror from our neck up. Well, kiddies it's time to change all that and take the first step to getting fit before you realize you can't fit into anything you want to wear. So I have put together a plan of attack for everyone out there. Here it is:

5 Steps to Fitness

1) Create a plan- In your plan, figure out a REAL schedule, not a wishful thinking, I hope I can, if I juggle this or get my mother in law to do that, schedule. A real �I will workout Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 5:30 pm� schedule. Then figure out where; at home, a gym or a friend�s house (or if the weather is cooperative; the park). When that�s done, pick a non-family member to workout with you, to keep you accountable. This should take all of 15 minutes, so don�t put it off because you think doilies under the centerpieces really matter, they don�t.

2) Set Goals � Goals are things you shoot for, they are not fantasies. Four important things to keep in mind when setting goals are; Make the goals specific, �Not, I want to lose weight for my wedding� but �I will lose 15 pounds of fat or 3 inches in my waist for my wedding.� Make sure it is possible to measure your goals, either by yourself, or by a fitness professional. Set big goals. Don�t sell yourself short. You can achieve anything you set out to do. Have realistic deadlines. If you think �I can lose 30 pounds in 30 days� you�re dead wrong. 1-2 pounds a week is a good start.

3) Write down your food intake � Keeping a journal of what you eat throughout the day is the best way to keep yourself accountable. Most individuals who keep food diaries are likelier to eat healthier and stay the course, than those that don�t. If you need a food journal I�ll send you one for free, just logon to http://www.cinweekly.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=askroccofoodjournal.
I will send one write out to you.

4) Commit to exercise 3 hours a week- I don�t care if it is three days for 1 hour per day, or 6 days for 30 minutes, that�s for you to decide (remember create a realistic plan). A routine that incorporates resistance training and aerobic exercise will create a symmetrical look for your body. Don�t just try to work on your trouble spots, because you will wind up looking out of balance due to overcompensation.

5) Exercise with intensity � As with any exercise plan you need to workout, and not just show up. If you can walk or run and hold a conversation with your friend, you�re not working out hard enough. If you�re waiting more than 15 seconds between sets, you�re not working out hard enough. The last 5 repetitions of each set are supposed to burn, and you should need to ask your partner for some help. The higher the intensity, the quicker the results, and the shorter the workouts will have to be�efficiency at its best!

Good luck

Posted by Rocco at 05:59 PM | Comments (1)