Author: Patrick Rooney

Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who in this land is fairest of all? ~ Brothers Grimm   Mirrors have gotten a bad rap. I’m going to do my best in this article to restore them to their rightful place of honor. Confession: I’m a low-tech guy. I’ve always inherently trusted low tech, and distrusted high tech. Perhaps this is a reflection of my background – my parents were middle class, blue-collar people who were heavily influenced by the Great Depression. They learned to trust real, tangible things, and so have I. Don’t get me wrong – high tech has brought us so many amazing breakthroughs. I’m well aware, and grateful, for instance, that this column itself would not be possible without the magic of the Internet. But still… In the fitness world, so much these days seems to be about the hottest trends. And right now, wearable technology is IT. Gotta have a FitBit, or an Apple Watch, or a Garmin, or a Huwai. You’ve gotta track your steps, your heart rate, your “perceived” exertion, your calories, and your macros (protein, carbs, and fats). Hey – again, I ain’t hatin’!’ I like and recommend MyFitnessPal and other nutrition trackers to my…

  Are you “experienced”? Have you ever been “experienced”? Well, I have… ~ Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced? According to the legendary rock star himself, the above song was not necessarily written about drugs, but about being at peace with yourself. That’s cool. But the song – with its revolutionary psychedelic effects—sounded like a drug testimony to me! Yet arguably, the most powerful “drug” of all to “experience” isn’t revolutionary at all—it’s the food we eat every day. Food is certainly the biggest challenge to the majority of my personal training clients, and from what I can see, much of mankind. The role of food has gone so far beyond its biological function (i.e.: nourishing the body) – particularly in modern times – that I don’t see how it will return to it’s original role. I remember growing up, my mom baked dessert items on a near-daily basis. She had taken a cake-decorating class at a local adult school, and really went to town with it! We always had something sweet and delectable inside the Tupperware container on top of the fridge, and when it came time to celebrate our birthdays… forget about it! And on the back patio, we had a second refrigerator…

  The one question every Certified Personal Trainer should know the answer to in regards to a client is, “Can I help you?” I know for my company, Greek Physique™, LLC, the answer, quite frankly is, “It depends.” If you want to be a steroid-juiced, vein-popping bodybuilder, the answer is “No; we can’t help you.” If you want to be able to lift a car off the ground without a jack, the answer is “No.” If you want to reduce your bodyfat to a mere handful of percentage points, the answer is “No.” If you want to train for an ultra-marathon race, the answer is “No.” If you want to attain the flexibility of a contortionist, the answer is “No.” Now if you want someone to train you for the above goals, you can certainly find many who can and will provide that service. It’s just not what we do. It’s important for every person, and for every business, to know what they do—and what they DON’T do. So… “Can I help you?” If you want to gain lean muscle mass or attain a more toned and proportional physique, the answer is “Yes.” If you want to increase strength, the answer…