* Greg had lost 3.4 kg (now up to 5kg) already - more than I could have hoped in this short space of time
* Andre is definitely gaining some more muscle - and his movements and co-ordination have just improved out of sight since seeing Mike (our resident chiro / Active Release Technique specialist)
* Ashley had a week and a half from training due to illness, which was not ideal. Though that happens. His progress through the weights of the first program though was pretty phenomenal. I think he is going to go even further than I thought in this challenge.
First month - body balancing and general preparation
The first month of training was all about structural balance - preparing the body for the harder training coming up from weeks 5-12. This is important to ensure the extra load placed on all the major joints - knees, spine, hips and shoulders - will be accommodated for by proper muscle strength and flexibility. Without this, we could have launched into the hell-for-leather training earlier, but more likely to either injure the guys, or have plateaus early. This way, we're looking at constant improvement and no plateaus or limitations throughout the whole competition.
Active Release Technique and chiropractic treatment
I've come to find both of these (best done together, not just individually) crucial for getting training off to a flying start. It's beyond my capability to assess clients for all the joint and spinal imbalances they could be experiencing before starting training. Instead I'm more than happy to refer clients who appear to have some imbalances from the tests I do use, to one of my trusted practitioners.
Mike, one of the leaders of the Stretch Doctor program launching Australia wide later this year, is a chiropractor and was suggested to me by one of my most trusted and admired fitness/health professionals, Tony Boutagy, as one of the top 3 Active Release Technique practitioners in the country.
So far the results of his work on Andre, who he's seen a few times now, have been pretty stunning. I've had treatments from Mike so I know what kid of benefits can be achieved. However seeing it Andre has really hammered it home, the importance of this kind of soft tissue treatment combined with joint manipulation. As an example, Andre's squat has just improved out of sight - from this wobbly, completely off-centre movement where limbs literally looked like they were snaking in every direction, to a solid, straight-up-and-down, by-the-numbers piece of work. Remarkable! Considering that most of Andre's mass is going to need to come from these large, bank-for-your-buck multi-joint exercises, the improvement is much, much appreciated.
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| Andre casually strolls past Greg, at Golds Gym Sydney |
If you're having any of these stubborn movement errors in your own training I'd highly recommend a really good ART practitioner to help out. For those in Sydney, Mike Badke works alongside with a number of other chiropractor/ART professionals who are very much geared up to make impressive changes in returning proper movement patterns to guys training. Give them a buzz at City Clinic on (02) 9304 5000.
Supplements
With about 2 weeks of ASN supplement use under their belts, there is definitely something to be said for the products we were supplied. From what I can see so far, the HemoTest testosterone booster, the Crank2 pre-workout formula and the DFine-8 weight management powder are standouts - but all of what the boys are taking I'm quite impressed with.
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