I-FAST featured on Fox 59 Morning News

Well it was a day later than expected, but here's a link to our fitness segment on Fox 59.

http://www.fox59.com/pages/fitness_works

In this segment we wanted to show the viewers that there are tons of ways to have "metabolic" workouts without stepping on a treadmill or recumbent bike. I was a little disappointed in my pulling technique on the keg cleans, but then again I wasn't really expecting to do it in a full winter coat either! Let me be the first to tell you, it was NOT warm yesterday when we were filming.... ;)

Stay strong
MR

Sport-specific training for kids?

(Originally published at www.IFASTOnline.com)

I love the term "sport-specific." Not because it's a hot buzz word, but because it's so overused nowadays. It seems as though if you aren't talking about sport-specific programming, sport-specific exercises, etc., you obviously don't know what you're talking about.

The key with sport-specificity, however, is the context within which you're applying it. Especially with younger athletes, the goal should be to have some sport-specificity to the programming (deceleration work for team sports, scap/rotator cuff stabilization for overhead athletes, etc.), but not a ridiculous amount. After all, a 14 year-old athlete may be awesome at baseball, but his long-term potential is seriously compromised by letting him play the same sport year round. Wouldn't he learn more sports and motor skills by also playing basketball in the winter? Or soccer in the fall? The goal should be to develop a broad athletic base that can be built upon in the future.

Beyond the physical advantages to playing multiple sports, there are mental advantages as well. Firstly, you learn to adapt to situations in which you are uncomfortable. If you aren't as great physically at soccer, you learn other ways to be competitive. Maybe you get better technically or tactically in your sport. The bottom line is you learn how to adapt.

Secondly, you don't run the same risk of burnout. How many great young athletes have you heard of that quit early because they were burned out? I'm all for teaching our kids lessons like competition, teamwork, camraderie, etc., but we have to draw the line at some point and allow them to have fun.

Quite simply, sport-specificity is great, but it's not the be-all, end-all of training. At I-FAST, especially with our younger athletes, our goal is to build ATHLETES first and foremost. The more athletic they are, the more potential they have to succeed in any sport in the future.

Stay strong
MR

Tuesday's Random Thoughts

Sorry everyone, but this is the best I can do today! When it's only halfway through Tuesday and it already feels like it should be Thursday, you know you're in for a long week!

- Bill and I had a kick-ass distance client in the past two days, and I'm hoping to do more of this in the future. It was essentially an "intensive" two-day session as she had an assessment and two training sessions all within about a 15 hour time frame. Needless to say, I think she's going to be very happy with the progress she gets going forward!

You can find out more by checking out the new I-FAST home at www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com

- The big project I've been working on is kicking my ass. It's a legit 150 pages as of now, and I still have several chapters left. My goal is still to get it completed by the first of the year, but we'll have to wait and see on that.

- I'm also in the process of pulling together my Aussie seminar presentations. Needless to say, this is no small feat! 5-6 hours of lecture content in the form of Powerpoint slides take a little time ;)

- I'm prepping for the world's most grandiose wedding ever (I think) this weekend. I'm actually in the wedding, and we've got several couples staying at our house this weekend. In all honesty, I'm not sure who's more stressed - me and my wife, or the couple getting married! Regardless, it should be a great time and I'm really looking forward to catching up with some old friends.

I think that's it for today - hopefully I'll be refreshed and ready to go for tomorrow's blog. Have a great day everyone!

Stay strong
MR

Q&A: Low back position and squatting

Hey Mike, after reading your article yesterday on T-Nation I had a question. My low back always rounds when I squat deep. How can I fix this?





Thanks!





You know this is a simple question, yet the answer is quite complex. Very simply, it's always going to depend upon the specific limitatations of that person. Here are just a few of the issues that could be hindering their performance:



- Short/stiff hamstrings
- Short/stiff gluteals
- Weak back extensors
- Stiffness imbalance between hips and back extensors
- Poor muscle coordination of the "core"
- Poor technique

Those are just a few of the reasons I can come up with off the top of my head. Generally, the people Bill or I evaluate who can't squat deep have one or more of these issues going on.

So since I can't evaluate you, what can I help you with? Quite often, we see a stiffness imbalance between the hips (glutes, hams, etc.) and the spinal erectors. When we examine the properties that constitute stiffness, one of the key attributes, quite simply, is cross sectional area! A bigger muscle will be stiffer than a smaller oner. So how do we fix this? Get the appropriate area stronger!

While I'm not a big fan of back hyperextensions, I think basic back extensions should be a part of your program if you have this issue. After all, Olympic lifters have included back extensions in their programs for years and they have arguable the best squat technique. Obviously this isn't the only contributing factor to their squatting prowress, but I think it plays a role. Low back strengthening/hypertrophy work, coupled with mobility work for the hips should take you a long way.

Bill and I actually have an entire piece in the works on this topic. Our goal would be to make it a manual/DVD combo. Hopefully once I-FAST settles down a bit we can pull it together. This would include assessment techniques, training strategies, the progressions we use with clients, etc.

In the interim, get that low back stronger and get your hips as mobile as possible. Good luck!

Stay strong
MR

Random blog updates

There have been some really great blog posts lately, so I wanted to link to them here in case you missed them.

- Nate Green discusses our training in his blog post below; check it out:

http://thenategreenexperience.com/blog/A+Peek+Into+My+Training+Schedule

- In Eric's blog yesterday, he discusses how far the mainstream media is behind the current literature. It's almost like we know what we're talking about. Or something like that.

http://ericcressey.blogspot.com/2008/11/mainstream-media-lag.html

- Strength coach Mike Boyle discusses his views on pundits and criticism here:

http://mboyle1959.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/the-man-in-the-arena/

These are just three of the blogs I follow, but I think you'll find them all interesting for different reasons. Enjoy!

Stay strong
MR

BTW, we're updating the I-FAST site as we speak! Be sure to check it out at www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com

No more neck pain?

I was working with one of our new clients today, and he mentioned something that I felt the need to blog about. Let me back up for a moment, first.

The whole "joint-by-joint" approach seems to take a beating from time to time. I discussed this to some extent in my "Mobility-Stability" continuum article on T-Nation; it's not perfect, but you can take those basic concepts and build upon them to have a pretty darn good idea of how the body functions, and how to improve your training.

Back to my client. We were taking him through his warm-up, and he remarked how little his neck had bothered him since we started his training 3 weeks ago. This is no small feat, considering he sits at a desk anywhere from 8-16 hours per day, 5 or more days per week! You read that right - he works 16 hour shifts all next week!

The recipe for him was simple, though. He didn't have a neck problem as much as he had issues surrounding his shoulders and thoracic spine. He was assessed by Bill and his routine has included foam rolling, static stretching, mobility drills as we discussed in Inside-Out, and a comprehensive training program geared towards improving his upper extremity alignment.

The result? Virtually no neck pain, and his shoulder (which was also an issue) is coming around too. Not bad for three weeks work.

The bottom line in this industry is results. But, that's a blog for another day! ;)

Stay strong

MR

A Kick Ass Monday

How often can you say that? ;)

In all seriousness, yesterday was a great day. We had our typical morning guys and gals in, who are all getting bigger, stronger, and leaning out.

In the late morning, Dan "The Doctor" New came in and had a great workout. I'm sure he's disappointed with his last fight, but I would NOT want to be the next guy that gets in the ring/cage with him. He's had 4 or 5 weeks of really solid training and looks stronger and faster than I can ever remember.

With Dan, Jim and Deb came in and absolutely killed their latest fat loss workout. I don't know where Bill came up with their workout, but it looked straight evil!

In the afternoon I got a bunch of writing done - the obvious blog updates, along with a solid hour of work on my next project. I'm doing my best to just keep chipping away at it, but I really think it has the potential to be something special.

In the evening we had our night crew in. My buddy Justin (who I blogged about yesterday), not only looks leaner and more athletic, but I can't describe how much better he's moving. It really doesn't even look like the same person.

Heather (the bride to be) is still killing her workouts and is now only 2.5 weeks out from d-day. Should anyone remind her that the guy she's going to marry is a total clown? Just kidding buddy!

And finally, Walter is making huge strides. Decreases in pain, more efficient movement, and a much better overall posture and alignment. Most importantly, he's starting to look and move like an athlete. Very cool indeed.

So yesterday kicked ass, but here's a few more updates in the interim:

- New article up at Figure Athlete today. I don't typically do the "body part" type article, but when you're writing on assignment you'll take whatever your editor gives you!

- I never thought I would enjoy the whole social networking style site, but I really enjoy Facebook. I love how easy it is to keep in touch with friends, family, and professional colleagues alike. If you haven't already, send me a friend request!

- Last but not least, go out and VOTE TODAY!

Stay strong
MR

Who is this guy?

When looking to get with a potential trainer or coach, this is a great question to ask. Now that we're firmly planted in the Internet age, virtually anyone can proclaim themselves an expert or world-class coach. I'm the first to admit that my status in the industry has been highly elevated due to the fact that I've written for sites like T-nation for quite some time. If I'm actually worthy of that status or not is up to you as a consumer to determine!

So how do you cut through the BS and really determine if someone is good? Here are a few options you can employ:

- If they have a website, thoroughly review it. Do they have articles, blogs, and/or other informational materials that help demonstrate their competence? Keep in mind there's more to sounding smart than bashing others! What techniques do they use to achieve success? What are their philosophies on training/coaching? This will give you a better idea of how they train and if their thoughts/philosophies mesh with your own.

- What is their current status as a trainer/coach? Are they actually training people themselves? Don't be surprised to find out that many internet personalities actually train very few people!

At I-FAST we offer a 14-day trial membership - anyone can come in off the street and get assessed, get an individualized program produced, and train for free to determine if they like the program and us as coaches.

- Finally, and possibly most importantly, ask the other clients/athletes that train with this coach/trainer. Are they delivering results? Do they educate them? Are they achieving their goals? You can talk a big game, but the bottom line is if you deliver to your clients. I'm confident that anyone who works with Bill, myself or any of our future employees will be able to vouch for our competence.

If you're interested in hiring a trainer or coach, doing a little research can go a long way to helping you achieve your goals. Good luck!

Stay strong
MR

Tone Down the Protein Please

I was going to write something profound today, but then I read the following article and blog post and had to re-post it here today.

This was written by ExSci student and I-FAST gym member Lance Goyke. Guys like Lance are the future of the industry, and it's pretty bad when you write something so poor that a 19 year old can poke holes all throughout your article!

Have a great weekend!
__________________________________________________________________

MSN is the leader of health, right?

Ehh, I'm not so sure.

I'll a attempt to dissect this article in order.

Martica Heaner, M.A., M.Ed., has just told us that we eat too much protein. Not we as my friends in the bodybuilding community, but we as in the population. If we want specifics, the third paragraph is what set me off. She says that working out puts us in an anabolic state overnight. Night time is synonymous with catabolism! Some hardcores who don't care about sleep will wake up in the middle of the night to drink a shake or take some BCAAs to stop the muscle eating! Hell, even working out alone puts you in a catabolic state if you don't have proper post-workout nutrition (which, thankfully, she discusses later).

She mentions a study by Peter Lemon that suggests this is true. After a quick search of PubMed.com, a site that consists of fitness and nutrition studies, I've found that this professor does a lot of research work with world-renown Dr. John Berardi. Not a surprise seeing as they're both Canucks. For the record, I never actually determined what study she was referring to. I really wish she had cited the information!

"More protein can lead to more body fat"

No shit. Excess calories need to go somewhere, and if you eat too much of something, it will be stored as fat. However, protein, out of all the macronutrients, is the least likely to be stored as fat because of it's inability to make for a good energy source. She fails to mention that protein is harder to digest, and in turn burns more calories. She used a great tactic that is used when talking about statistics a lot. A journalistic lie if you will (much like what every processed food manufacturer does). It's kind of like if I were to say that only a small percentage of my body gets erect when I see things like Isla Fisher.

Sure it's true, but it's very misleading.



Ohhh, Isla...

She wants us to consume less than a a gram per kilogram of bodyweight. I am "overweight and I'm less than 80 kg. She says 65 grams a day for me.

You have got to be fucking kidding?

For the record, a cup of chopped broccoli is usually a lot more than somebody will eat in a day. Much greater than a serving that the beloved Department of Agriculture makes so popular. And she thinks the average American consumes 100 grams of protein! 100 grams!? If you look on a nutrition label you can easily find out that they base those off of 50 grams of protein a day. I would venture to guess that most people don't get that unless they have a figure in their life that enjoys cooking.

"Timing your muscle fueling efforts"

This paragraph actually baffled me. How can she read great work like that of Nutrient Timing by Dr. John Ivy and still think all of this other stuff? I do think that 4:1 on carbs:protein is a little excessive on the carbohydrate side, but I would say that you want at least 2:1.

Last line:Peanut butter on bread.

Nothing about the peanut butter being natural. Nothing about the bread being 100% whole grain. Don't even worry about the fact that there's roughly no healthy loaf of bread that you can find in a grocery store. Just throw those fats onto those carbohydrates and get a lovely, gigantic insulin spike! Speed up the fat gain, Mommy! I'm taking up sumo wrestling!

Mike's Day

We'll divert from our usual blog format to give you guys a little insight as to what an average day looks like for me. Ok, maybe it's not average but it's what I've done today.

Today is a pretty light day w/regards to clients; I've founded our busiest days are M-W-F-Sa. Typically I get a session in on Thursday mornings, but I was up late last night and wanted some people to train with, so I'll get today's session in tomorrow morning.

Instead, I headed in to the gym early to get to work. I'm currently working on refining our systems, and making sure everything is in order as I-FAST is continuing to steadily grow. It's not nearly as sexy as helping someone get healthy or squat 5 bills, but it's something that needs to be done to ensure the business runs as smoothly as possible, both now and in the future. Bill and I are also working on finishing up our 2nd big marketing campaign, so that will be sent to the printer later this afternoon.

Today has also been a huge day for writing. I'm getting to the point now where if I outline something beforehand, my brain basically writes before I ever sit at a computer! This is making me much more efficient, and today I typed up an 5 page article (~2000 words) in 50 minutes.

After a quick lunch and coffeebreak I returned to work on my big project. Yes, it's big. No, I won't tell you much about it. Needless to say I would consider it 25-30% done and it's already 90 pages worth of content. And just to piss off the pundits everything is single-spaced, 12 point font, etc. I want this to be the resource of its kind. I can guarantee it won't be perfect, but I'm going to do my damndest(?) to put something special together. I hope you'll enjoy it when the time comes.

My bridal boot camp couple is coming in later this evening, and I'll be up in the early AM to get a pulling session in tomorrow. I haven't updated the training blog much lately, but things are actually going pretty well. If I weren't sitting so much lately I would like to think that I'm about the most healthy, and strongest, I've been in quite some time. I need to continue on this path and see where it takes me.

Stay strong
MR

Motivated Clients

While I normally train first thing on Tuesday mornings, I had a consult with a potential new client this morning at I-FAST. Over the course of the conversation, we got to talking about my various experiences in the field (rehab, personal training, strength coaching, etc.) and he asked me which I liked best.

It took me a moment to process, but then it dawned on me: I like all of them! They all present different challenges. Most importantly, the real key here is the people you are working with. In the past I've almost always had a fair amount of people who were unmotivated; in all honesty, achieving their goals just wasn't their top priority. Now keep in mind not everyone was like that, but I always had a few.

Today, every member of I-FAST is 100% dedicated to achieving their goals. I can say with complete confidence that there's not one single client that I don't enjoy training. Why? They are dedicated and serious about achieving their goals. When you have dialed in clients, it makes everything you do as a trainer, coach, or therapist that much easier.

If you live in or around the Indianapolis area and you aren't gettin the results you want, please e-mail us so we can get you on the right track.

If you're a trainer, coach or therapist, do your best to align yourself with positive, dedicated and hard-working clients and athletes. You'll have better outcomes and you'll enjoy your work that much more in the long run.

Stay strong
MR

R.I.P. - Remembering our Prowler

It's a sad day today at Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training.

Many of our clients have one goal: To lose body fat and kick some ass. Yes, I realize that's two goals. Whatever. We take great pride in pushing our clients to the limits, and in the end helping them break through perceived limitations when it comes to their body/physique.

While every component of our fat loss programming is somewhat metabolic in nature, we love finishing people off with energy system work at the end. As many of you know we aren't huge fans of overpriced treadmills and recumbent bikes; they take up too much space and cost too damn much. We much prefer alternative methods like med ball or body weight circuits, kettlebells, Airdyne sprints and everyone's favorite, the Prowler. They're more fun, and our clients really enjoy the workouts.

As we were training clients today, Bill turned to me and asked "Where's the Prowler?" We have a great strip out back where our clients pay their body comp dues, so we immediately walked back there to find it. Unfortunately, the shady dumpster people got the best of us today and stole our Prowler. We had been training out there numerous times when the following discussion had gone down:

Shady Dumpster guy, leering at our Prowler - "Is that scrap?"

Us - "No!"

So to whomever decided that our $500 Prowler would make a nice piece of $25 scrap metal, thank you. We appreciate your willingness to steal our stuff to make a quick buck.

RIP Prowler #1 - you will be sorely missed.

MR

Training to get lean

I had a pretty full morning today at I-FAST - Monday mornings are quickly becoming one of our busiest times.

After getting through everyone's workouts, I found myself very hungry and decided to head to one of my favorite breakfast joints, Cafe Patchou. They use free-range eggs, have all kinds of exotic fruits, and their yogurt/granola is simply out-of-this-world. But this post isn't about my gluttony and love for breakfast.

As I was driving, I saw several overweight people walking along a path here on the northside of Indy. Now I'm not a slave to any dogma, and I know that walking can be beneficial to your health and well-being. But, since they were overweight I can only assume they were doing this to lose weight - and it's simply not the most efficient way to do things.

One of the first questions I'm asked when people tour our gym is "Where are your treadmills?" I always explain to them that the way we structure their strength and energy system workouts makes the need for treadmills irrelevant. Not that they can't be useful - but for $3,000 (the minimum you're going to pay for a decent commerical-grade treadmill), I could buy several Prowlers, Airdyne's, and a whole set of kettlebells!

In fact, all of our clients did energy system training this morning, considering body comp is a priority to all of them. Instead of slaving away on the treadmill they pushed the prowler, performed KB swings, or did interval sprints on the Airdyne. I've found thus far that our clients really enjoy this kind of EST much more than "traditional" means - it's quick, efficient and brutally effective.

I'm not saying that intervals are the only way to get someone lean, but they certainly can help if integrated appropriately into a program. If you yourself are looking to get lean, be sure to check out Leigh Peele's Fat Loss Troubleshoot or Alwyn Cosgrove's and Mike Roussell's Warp Speed Fat Loss programs.

Stay strong
MR

Life is good - plus updates

Things have been really crazy since returning from vacation - opening a new gym, moving into a new house, etc.

Regardless, I wouldn't have it any other way - I'm loving what I'm doing right now and feel like I'm really creating something awesome with Bill. There's nothing more powerful than helping people feel better about themselves.

With that being said, here are a bunch of updates...

- I had a new article go up at FigureAthlete.com; you can check it out here:

The Top 5 Reasons You're Not Succeeding

- For those of you who've asked, the gym is going REALLY well. We're generating more and more interest, and getting tons of interest and new clients in the door. If you want to learn more, check out the website www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com

- Over my Alaska trip I read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" - if you are interested in health and nutrition, you owe it to yourself to read this book. I'm actually in the process of finding a good local butcher, and Jess and I are planning on hitting the local farmer's markets as well. While I always figured I ate "well" or "clean," this book kind of smacks you in the face as to how screwed up our food is here in America.

- Expect some updates soon on the Justin Ware project. Justin is progressing nicely, and I think in the next 2-3 months he's going to see some massive changes in the quality of his movement and his physique.

- The next project that I've been toiling over is almost completed - my good friend and editor Lisa Holliday has done a great job of cleaning up my messes, and the best part of this is it will be 100% free! In fact, if you like it, I'd ask that you pass it on to a friend or loved one who you feel can benefit from it.

- This weekend should be interesting - we're driving up to Chicago for a Cubbies game, but hitting the Dan Ryan expressway at rush hour. Wish me luck ;)

Have a great weekend!

MR

I-FAST #3 - Unconventional Fitness

One aspect of training that I feel is going to be unique to I-FAST is our energy system work.

Now I'm a powerlifter at heart, so I hate anything that's remotely related to lactic acid. Add in a stationary bike or treadmill, and I'm on the verge of poking my eyes out.

And unless you just have a want or need to punish yourself, I think there are many alternative ways to skin that cat.

With regards to energy system work at I-FAST, let's put it this way - we don't even have a treadmill. That's not to say we will never own a treadmill, but we don't own one as of right now.

What do we have, you might ask? All kinds of fun stuff...

- Kettlebells
- A Prowler
- An Airdyne bike
- Med balls
- Open space for bodyweight circuits
- We'll soon have a sled, heavy bag, keg(s) and tractor tires

Not to mention countless barbell and dumbbell complexes that we can concoct. Quite simply, there are TONS of different ways to challenge your energy systems without ever stepping on a treadmill. And it's our goal to not only get our clients into kick ass shape, but to hopefully have some fun along the way.

If you're interested in training at I-FAST, check out the website:

www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com

Stay strong
MR

BTW, don't forget that the Indy Seminar DVD's are on sale this week ONLY! Be sure to pick up a copy by following the link below.

2008 Indy Seminar DVD's

Anyone need an Indianapolis Personal Trainer?

Well, the I-FAST site is really coming around! Mike Roussell has been hard at work over the past couple of weeks to bring it together, so be sure to check it out below. If you're interested in personal training, sports performance training, or simply an open gym membership, you owe it to yourself to check us out.

Stay strong
MR


Indianapolis Personal Trainer

I-FAST #2 - Personal/Group Training

Let's be honest - personal training and performance coaching isn't cheap. Most people out there simply can't afford to pay $80/hour (or more) multiple times per week to work with you.

So what's an alternative that works as a win-win for everyone involved? Small group training. In fact, we'll be offering almost all our training sessions in a small group format versus a one-on-one setting.

Small group training is superior in several regards:

- As mentioned above, not everyone can pay $80/session multiple times per week. However, a lot more people can pay $30-$40/session (Duh!). Quite simply, you open yourself up to a much larger market because you're more affordable than the competition.

- A small group setting gives trainees a chance to work out with other clients who have similar goals. Whether you want to lose body fat, get stronger, or become more athletic, there's nothing better than being surrounded by other motivated people.

- As a facility or trainer, it makes more sense because you can have more trainees working out at any given time. The one-on-one method leads to a lot of down time; chatting about last night's TV shows or the latest gossip. Sure, as a trainer you're going to work harder in a group model, but you're much more efficient with your time in the gym. After all, who wants to work with a trainer at 7 pm when he's been in the gym since 6 am?

The goal is to cater to two primary demographics: the everday Joe/Jane that's interested in losing bodyfat or getting into better shape, and athletes who want to take their performance to the next level. When you think about it, the rules of training don't change all that much between the two groups:

1 - Use compound, big bang exercises
2 - Eat a wholesome, nutritious diet
3 - Recover properly

Sure the programming will be different in certain aresa, but most people need to train more "athletically" to get to their goals anyway!

The group training model is a defining difference between I-FAST and the competition. Remember our primary goal: To help YOU achieve your goals.

www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com

Stay strong
MR

I-FAST #1 - Open Gym Memberships

Over the course of the following days, I'm going to blog about the new gym that Bill Hartman and I are opening. I think it's fair to say that opening a gym is a dream that both of us have had for quite some time, so in these blog posts I'm going to do my best to describe what will make Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (I-FAST) unique when compared to other fitness facilities.

In this blog we'll discuss open gym memberships at the facility.

When you join your "typical" commerical facility, a few things will probably happen:

- You'll sign some sort of contract
- You might get a brief tour of the facility
- You might get someone to "show you how to use the machines"
- If you're really lucky, they may do some sort of fitness testing on you

Whether you think of it this way or not, you're basically renting machines from your current gym. You will get little or no guidance. To boot, you'll probably get little or not support.

You're a cog in the wheel.

At I-FAST, our #1 goal is to ensure that our clients see results. After all, each and every person who trains at your gym is a walking billboard, whether you want to believe it or not. Our open gym membership will be vastly different from others in several regards.

First, EVERY PERSON who trains at our gym will be assessed to help determine their starting points and issues that need to be addressed. This could include body composition, joint specific mobility/stability testing, gross motor movements, etc. Obviously, it's going to be very dependent upon your current level of training, your goals, etc. but everyone will be assessed.

Next, EVERY PERSON who trains at our gym will be on an individualized program to help them achieve their goals. You won't see someone doing 30 sets of curls, bench presses, or front raises. After all, how many people in your current gym work hard enough to have success, but have terrible programming? Or programming that doesn't fit their current goals? If you combine hard work with quality programming, good things happen.

Another common issue with most commercial facilities is a lack of the big bang equipment such as racks, platforms, plates, etc. Just to start out we're going to have four platforms and three racks so you don't have to deal with this madness. Beyond that, we'll have tons of the other stuff you know you need - dumbbells, strongman equipment, etc.

Finally, our goal is to create a community within our members so that you'll actually enjoy the people around you when you work out. A positive and supportive environment can taken even the most average trainee to amazing levels of strength and fitness, so we'll include all kinds of events and outings to make sure that you "know thy neighbor."

In the end, even our open gym memberships aren't so much members as they are clients - people we've assessed, programmed for, and set on a path to success.

In Part II, we'll discuss the various training programs that I-FAST has to offer.

Stay strong
MR

www.IndianapolisFitnessAndSportsTraining.com