Chin-Ups

Chin-Ups for the person who can't do one.

This site contains a plethora of information on improving your Chin-Ups, even if you can't do any.  The key to getting started is to use favorable cheats to strengthen the required muscles.

One word of caution, Stew Smith warns against over working the muscle groups.

Bret Contreras fills in any missing pieces with this in depth article.

Pulling Exercises for Climbers can help as well.

Bench Press

What happens when you plateau on the Bench Press?  

This article in BodyBuilder.com called Bench Press Blast Off covers the 15 steps needed to push past the plateau.

Here is some research on the number of sets and reps you should incorporate into your workout.

The Poliquin Group gives their 10 Tips for the Bench as well.

Organize Your Mind

An organized mind reduces stress, says Dr. Oz.

Techniques:

• Drawing
• Apps
• DeCluter
• Brain Dump
• Thoughts on Paper
• Video

Human Guinea Pig

Timothy Ferriss uses his body as a laboratory for testing mental and physical experiments.  He has it down to a science -- and lots and lots of data points.

An Apple A Day

Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity.
 -- Og Mandino

What makes us healthy, wealthy and wise?

The Harvard Grant Study - 70 Years of Research on a group of young men of the 1940's.  The study provided psychologist with a large body of individualized data over a wide range of years.  A similar database involves the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness  program developed for the Army with the help of Martin Seligman.

Triumphs of Experience by George E. Vaillant looks into the vast amounts of data from the Harvard Grant Study and comes away with an interesting analysis of human behavior.  Chris Gondek interviews George E. Vaillant on The Invisible Hand podcast.

Twitter: @ChrisGondek

Ocean Rower

Roz Savage on Maximise Potential Podcast

Listen to the Show

Incredible story of a woman who decide to change her life - applying discipline and devotion.




Song by Jack Johnson - Upside Down

Runnin' on MT

I spent a little time searching for some good running songs to round out and extend my Playlist.  Most of the stuff I found was either Techno or Rappish, so I failed on the Google front.  And you know what that means, I had to delve into my own kluttered mind to pull out songs like "Born to Run" by Bruce, "Walk of Life" by Dire Straits and one of my favorite songs "True Believer" by Ronnie Milsap.

For running outside I'm less picky, however this rainy weather forces me inside to the boring basement machine.  I definately need inpiring 164 BPM tunes.  My current playlist includes:

• Big Shot	Billy Joel
  You May Be Right	Billy Joel
  We Didn't Start The Fire	Billy Joel
  Enid	Barenaked Ladies
  Crazy	Barenaked Ladies
  Red Lips, Red Eyes, Red Stockings	The Red Elvises
  Jumping Cat Boogie	The Red Elvises
  Walk Of Life	Dire Straits
  Love Her Madly	The Doors
  Riders On The Storm	The Doors
  You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)	Meat Loaf
  Baby Likes To Rock It	The Tractors
  True Believer	Ronnie Milsap
  All You Ever Do Is Bring Me Down	The Mavericks
  All Revved Up With No Place To Go	Meat Loaf
  Ring Of Fire	Johnny Cash
  Somethin' Else	Little Richard & Tanya Tucker
  Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard	Simon & Garfunkel
  Late In The Evening	Simon & Garfunkel
  Kodachrome/Maybellene	Simon & Garfunkel
  Ketchup song original and full	(have you  ever heard this one)
  I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)	The Proclaimers
  Under the Bridge	Red Hot Chili Peppers
  Thunder Road	Bruce Springsteen
  Born to Run	Bruce Springsteen