Grand Rapids Personal Trainer TV Show
Ok, so this post should probably be titled “Calvin College TV Show” – but since one of their media production classes (CAS250) asked me to help ‘em with a li’l project this semester, and I was the host of the fitness-themed show – I s’pose it’s just as fair to call it the Grand Rapids Personal Trainer show, too. ;-)
Anyway, over the past couple of months, I developed content for SEVENTEEN 10-minute episodes of a show titled “Beltline Construction” – a double-entendre those familiar with Grand Rapids geography will no doubt understand.
More to the point, below is a brief teaser/highlight reel from the project. I’ll be posting individual episodes at my GRPT site soon and will post some additional “fan page” exclusive content HERE. (“Like” it so you don’t miss a beat)
Have a happy festivus and a “mighty” 2012!
Now on with the show…
[Oh... and a HUGE thanks to my hard-rockin' musician buddy Mark E. Johnson from Pennsville, NJ for allowing us to use the 'training tune' in the show!)
Slosh Pipe Training Revisited
You may (or may not) remember my July 31st appearance on Grand Rapids Fox 17 where Morning Show host Sarah Brodhead took the slosh-pipe for a ride (or was it the other way around?)
This morning, the pipe returned with a vengeance – this time with its little cousin, the “slosh bell” (the 2′ left-over from a 10′ pipe when I made an 8 footer.) We also discussed a low cost way to help your slosh pipe survive even the coldest of Michigan winters.
Enjoy (and feel free to leave comments about your own slosh-pipe training experience).
Dip and scoop, Sarah.
Dip and scoop.
Slosh Pipe for Core Training
This morning, I made another appearance on Grand Rapids’ Fox 17 Morning Show to discuss a fun li’l training tool known as the slosh pipe (a HUGE thank you to Sarah for leading into the segment with Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” and keeping my ‘guilty pleasure’ on the downlow).
Fox 17 Morning Show host Sarah Brodhead wrestles with the slosh pipe
Since it’s hard to squeeze everything I wanted to say into a 3-5 minute segment, here’s some extra notes to help you get started with slosh pipe training…
WHAT: The “Slosh Pipe” (also known in some circles as ‘the pillar of pain’), an 8′ to 10′ length of (schedule 40) PVC pipe, 4″ or 6″ in diameter; capped at one end, threaded ‘cleanout’ fitting at the other; filled 1/3 to 1/2 with water or RV antifreeze if you live in a cold climate (which Michigan will certainly qualify as in just a few more months)
WHY: Allows for ‘core’ training in an upright and ‘reactive’ environment. Low cost – about $25. Easy to make. Fun (assuming you enjoy pain!). Portable.
WHO: Anyone tired of endless, boring situps/crunches; competitive athletes; thrill-seekers and the exercise-curious.
HOW: Start by simply holding the slosh pipe steady in a horizontal position (the pipe should be horizontal, not you) Total weight is only 30-50lbs or so, but when the liquid is flying back and forth over an 8-10′ long line of travel, it’s like riding a mechanical bull. You’ll use muscles you didn’t know you had to resist and control the slosh pipe.
Once you’re comfortable with the basic hold, try walking, lunging, pressing, etc while working to maintain its horizontal position.
IMPORTANT/ACHTUNG/WARNING/PELIGRO:
This should be fairly obvious, but even though we demonstrated this training implement surrounded by expensive HD cameras, TV monitors, etc, because of the unpredictable nature of this training tool (and your response to its shifting mass), YOU SHOULD ONLY USE A SLOSH PIPE WHERE THERE IS ADEQUATE OPEN SPACE (read: outdoors, far away from windows, cars & people oblivious to their surroundings).
WHAT:
The “Slosh Pipe”: An 8′ to 10′ length of (schedule 40) PVC pipe, 4″ or 6″ in diameter; capped at one end, threaded ‘cleanout’ fitting at the other; filled 1/3 to 1/2 w/water (or RV antifreeze – this IS Michigan, after
all)
WHY:
Allows for ‘core’ training in an upright and ‘reactive’ environment Low cost – about $20 Easy to make Fun (assuming you enjoy pain!) Portable
WHO:
Anyone tired of endless, boring situps/crunches, competitive athletes, thrill-seekers and the exercise-curious.
HOW:
Start by simply holding the slosh pipe steady in a horizontal position (the pipe should be horizontal, not you) Total weight is only 30-50lbs or so, but when the liquid is flying back and forth over an 8-10′ long line of travel, it’s like riding a mechanical bull. You’ll use muscles you didn’t know you had to resist and control the slosh pipe (also known in some circles as ‘the pillar of pain’)
Once you’re comfortable with the basic hold, try walking, lunging, pressing, etc while working to maintain its horizontal position.
IMPORTANT/ACHTUNG/WARNING/PELIGRO:
because of the unpredictable nature of this training tool (and your response to its shifting mass), YOU WILL NEED PLENTY OF OPEN SPACE (read:
outdoors,
far away from windows, cars & people oblivious to their surroundings)
Michelle Obama: Fox-y lady?
In case you missed yesterday’s preview video, this morning I made another appearance on Grand Rapids’s Fox 17 Morning Show to take Sarah Brodhead through 3 exercises that’ll help you develop arms even Michelle Obama would be proud of.
Anyway, here’s a link to the segment as you’d see it on TV (nothing but Hi-Def news broadcasts at Fox… Brian, you know what I’m talking about ;-) ).
[7.13.09 UPDATE: the link above is no longer accurate as wxmi.com is now fox17online.com. Will post new link if/when it becomes available]
And because you know how hard I work to keep my legion of adoring fans (all 5 of you) entertained, here’s some behind the scenes footage I put together with my Flip Cam. Trust me, you don’t want to miss it…
“I had a very unattractive transvestite throw softballs at me for half an hour…”
-Tracy “barefoot’n” Forner
“I’ll flash west Michigan” – Sarah “the animal cracker” Brodhead
An Inconvenient Blog Post/Rocking The Vote
Long time fans, friends and fellow conservatives realize how hard it is for me to take anything remotely related to Al Gore seriously, but my buddy Jason White submitted a video from his visit to Club Industry East to be considered for airing on “current” TV.
If for no other reason, you NEED to watch it (click the video link above) for the preview of the “ABpuncher” – guaranteed to make ‘shorter time for bathroom problem” (sic) I don’t expect the ABpuncher to be on the market for very long, but what the heck do I know about this stuff?
While you’re hanging around the ‘current’ site, why don’t you take a few extra seconds to give Jason’s vid an “I Like It” vote so we can watch it again on the tube.
-JS-
Mayhem, Hellga, Toa and Venom…
Yeah, baby… The Gladiators are back with a vengeance!
Now I don’t watch a lot of TV, but when something as entertaining (and inherently cheesy) comes along as the revival of this late ’80s/early ’90s classic program, it’s a safe bet I’ll be glued to the idiot box until the Hulkster grumbles his final “yeah, brother”.
The current cast of Gladiators absolutely rocks: the names, the costumes, the personas (Wolf, are you ready? Hooowwwwl!)
“The Arena” offers 10 of the most (apparently) lopsided events any average putz could ever hope to compete against strong, well-muscled Gladiators without the same risk of losing teeth as they most likely would in a late night bar fight.
But sometimes underdogs actually come out on top - such as when Bonnie “Semper Fi” Blanco demonstrated her killer grip strength in “Hang Tough” to pick up 5 points. (the bigger they are, the harder they fall, right?).
Personally, I really enjoyed watching 155 pound Molivan “Moli” Duy getting repeatedly flung from “The Pyramid” like a ragdoll (the smaller they are, the farther they fly).
Perhaps the best laugh I got all night was when Jeff “old geezer” Keller was charged by the ref for giving Wolf ‘the business’ (this must be a politically correct way of saying “throwing punches” for a prime time audience). At least the guy finally got to live out his dream after a 14 year traffic jam.
I can’t wait to see what happens in round 2. So if you’re planning on calling me tonight after 8pm, be prepared to leave a voice message – I certainly won’t be taking any calls.
Reality Bites
I feel the need to get a few things off my chest today, but let me start by making this perfectly clear:
I have NEVER cast a single vote for American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, or any other so-called “reality” TV show.
I also think The Bachelor is a ridiculous use of network television airtime – but since people watch it, I’m willing to comment on it.
Critics of American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar say he didn’t have a strong voice.
I’m going to guess he couldn’t deadlift much, either. Maybe he should’ve spent less time on his hair and more time thinking about pumping iron and consuming protein shakes.
An online gambling site has people betting if Heather Mills’ prosthetic leg will fall off during competition on Dancing With The Stars.
I think a more interesting wager would be whether or not Joey “Fat One” Fatone had to pay for his copy of the newly released Dancing with the Stars: Cardio Dance DVD. At least it’s good to see that he’s starting to drop some of those extra pounds he was carrying when this season started. [NOTE: It's always good to support people named Joe(y)]
I still can’t understand why ABC’s The Bachelor is considered a reality show…
…when the only thing Navy officer/doctor/triathlete/bachelor Andy Baldwin has to do to motivate a group of women to swim laps, ride a bike or run is hand out a few roses each week. Yet highly skilled personal trainers - paid to help people develop the exercise habit – often have to fight tooth-and-nail just to get their clients to show up for their workouts.
Maybe the reality is that florists are the ones most capable of helping America get in shape.
"Mighty" Joe Stankowski
