Following yesterday’s entry, one reader commented with a link to Jamie Oliver’s TED award speech.  Up until a few days ago, I had never heard of Jamie Oliver.  He has some interesting things to say on the topic of childhood obesity however.  If you are concerned about the topic, I encourage you to take a look at the video below.

Below is a video that was emailed to me this morning (thanks to Andrew).  It is a short preview to an upcoming television show that premieres later this month.

The Youtube video description states the following:

Watch as kids in an elementary school class in Huntington, West Virginia have trouble identifying fresh fruits and vegetables. Huntington has been called the unhealthiest city in America where nearly half of the adults are considered obese.

Unfortunately, I’m not surprised by the video.  I am however glad that my three year old son was able to identify each vegetable from the preview.

Perhaps he has an unfair advantage, as he is usually my wife’s sidekick when she does the grocery shopping.  He’s been eating fresh vegetables since his first day of real food. When he asks for a snack, he is usually looking for fresh fruits and veggies. That is his idea of a snack. It’s what he’s been around his entire life.

In the words of John Dryden,

“We first make our habits, and then our habits make us.”

As I’ve stated many times before, youngsters don’t do their own grocery shopping. They follow the lead of their parents. It is up to us to guide, nurture, and teach them.

The best role model for a child is his or her parents.  Parents need to stop making excuses and step up to the plate.   If you don’t know what to do, take the time to find out.  Knowledge must be sought.  It won’t funnel through your pillow at night through osmosis.

Do what you need to do to raise a healthy child.

In the words of Ben Franklin,

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

Rob Taylor is closing in on age 70.  He’s a great-grandfather and cancer survivor.  He overcame skin cancer in 1999 and then tonsil cancer in 2003.  Four years later, the tonsil cancer returned.  This time it was worse, as it had spread to the lymph nodes in his neck.  He struggled through chemotherapy and repeated radiation treatments.  He even lost his saliva gland.

Rob has certainly been through a lot.  He doesn’t sit around and mope about the circumstances however.  On the contrary, he remains as active and strong as most men half his age.  He isn’t a lifetime lifter though.  Rob didn’t begin powerlifting until he was 64 years old.

Yet, despite the late start, cancer didn’t stop him from getting back into the gym before his hair had time to grow back.  It also didn’t stop him from becoming a record breaking lifter for his age group.  He’s already pulled over 450 pounds and has his eyes set on 500.

Rob’s story is one of true inspiration.  He’s overcome repeated battles with cancer and continues to defy age.  He doesn’t sit around feeling sorry for himself.  He’s too busy taking care of his family and busting ass in the gym.  Hats off to him.  I wish him continued success and health.

In past entries, I have highlighted various homemade  ab wheels designs.  I also wrote an article on the subject in early 2008.   Standing rollouts are definitely one of my favorite exercises for the core.  I regularly receive emails however from individuals who do not have access to wheels at their gym or are not looking to build one.

Traditional ab wheels only cost around $10, but I realize that you may not want to bring equipment to a commercial gym.  If this is the case, a barbell can be used to perform rollouts (standing or from the knees).  The video below includes a few brief demonstrations of the barbell rollout.

As you can see within the video, resistance bands can be easily added to the barbell to perform an assisted version of the standing rollout.  It’s much easier to add a resistance band to a barbell than an ab wheel.  The band seen within the video is actually a pallet band used for commercial shipping.

To perform the resistance band rollout, first attach the band to a secure object (ex. power rack).  Within the video, I actually used a heavily weighted trap bar.  I then slid a 5 pound plate under each side to prevent it from rolling.  You can see the slip-knot below.

Next, simply loop the other end around your barbell.

As you roll forward, tension within the band will increase.  This will help you to maintain control as you descend, and will then help you return to the starting position.  The band essentially pulls you back (similarly to a band assisted pull-up).  If you are looking to perform your first standing rollout, the resistance band may be one useful progression.

Additional progressions can be seen here (partial rollouts and ramp rollouts) and here (with lashing straps).

Throughout this blog’s history, I’ve highlighted several age related stories.  These entries are often visual reminders of George Bernard Shaw’s priceless wisdom.

“We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”

Many of the older athletes that I’ve featured have been training for longer than I’ve been alive.  These men and women are not growing old in the traditional sense.  They continue to thrive and often improve.  For example, Fred Peterson can be seen below pulling 640 pounds at 70 years old.

Fred can also be seen within this video pulling 680 pounds.  He speaks briefly at the 4:35 mark and then prepares for the lift at approximately 5:00 into the video.  While speaking, he mentions that he’s been lifting for 56 years.  It’s great to see someone remain passionate about training as they advance in age.

Below is yet another tremendous display of older strength.  Larry Wallen pulls 705 pounds at 60 years old.

Keep Living

I’m not posting these videos in hope that you sign your grandfather up for a powerlifting meet.  I’m posting these videos to remind you that life isn’t over until it is over.  You can remain passionate about training regardless of age.  These strength displays are incredibly inspirational to me.  I’m amazed at the strength of these men in their 60’s and 70’s. I can only hope that I’ll be as active as them when I approach their current age.

Larry Wallen and Fred Peterson are two clear examples that the body is much more capable than many realize.  It is amazing what can be accomplished with years of consistent and diligent work.  It is also worth mentioning that you can still do very well despite starting at an older age.

Either way, the possibility always exists for one to remain passionate.   The past is the past.  It’s over and we can’t change it.  You don’t need to be defined by what you did or didn’t do. If there is something that you want to do, get up and get busy.

In the words of Chuck Palahniuk,

“You have a choice. Live or die. Every breath is a choice. Every minute is a choice. To be or not to be.”

Below is a link to a recent Washington Post article about 11-year-old Dayton Webber. He may lack arms and legs, but he exhibits as much heart as anyone.

Amputee Dayton Webber, 11, excels at wrestling

At 11 months old, Dayton’s limbs were amputated because of a life-threatening bacterial infection. Dayton was not expected to live. Family gathered as he was administered his last rites. Fortunately, it’s been over ten years since his limbs were amputated and he’s still going strong.  He’s been an active wrestler for four years.  He also gets outside to play football, ice skate, ride go-karts, and more.  He is as active as any of his peers.

In Dayton’s own words,

“I just like to do sports. I feel like I can play sports and kind of show people what I can do — that I can do sports just as good as them. I feel like I can do anything if I just put my mind to it.”

He went on to say,

“Anything they say I can’t do, I try to show them I can do it.”

If Dayton can live with such determination despite his unfortunate circumstances, it is safe to say that we can all live with such conviction.  There are no excuses.

I honestly don’t know what I would do if one of my own children had to go through what Dayton has endured.  I never would have thought that an 11-year-old could be such an inspiration to me.  His story has certainly struck a chord.

We can all learn and benefit from the way Dayton lives his life.  I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.