Renegade

Last year, at the age of 33, I could not stand without suffering from lower back and foot pain. As my back began to ache I would lean forward to alleviate some of the pressure. However, this was prior to my introduction to Renegade training. At the time, I was doing hours of cardio exercise but very little resistance training. The cardio exercises placed a great deal of stress on my weak back causing more pain.

However, after a few months of Renegade training, I suddenly noticed I was standing void of pain. Although this may not seem like a great feat to some, if you’ve suffered from an injury or pain, this is enormous. If I had continued on without Renegade, this scenario would definately have concluded with an injury. However, by implementing Renegade training into my daily workout regime, I was able to significantly strengthen my entire posterior chain allowing me to remain injury free and finally becoming pain free!

Stay tuned for more Renegade blogs to learn more about this extraordinary training for ordinary people.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Dedham Strength & Fitness

I write these blogs to share my knowledge of health and fitness with others and to inform individuals that Renegade training, although it is considered an athletic training, is great for the most “ordinary” of people. Although I am a personal trainer and enjoy working out, I am ordinary. I am not an athlete nor have ever been one. I don’t partake in any recreational sports. I am not training for a marathon, triathlon or any other event. I workout for the benefits of health and wellness. Yet, I utilize Renegade training because it is simply the best training there is for anyone and everyone.

Renegade training focuses on training the entire body, promoting optimal strength throughout that serves to reduce injury. Other workout regimes and exercises focus on isolating muscles groups which creates strong body parts but weaker links that promotes injury.

“On the exercise-front, with the ‘fitness revolution’ came the development of wide assortment of machinery to both make it ‘easier’ to technically perform a lift then its free-weight alternative and to ‘isolate’ the muscle grouping as well. Although well intended in most situations, the problem with this is that that these type training measures eliminate the finite demands on the body to stabilize while lifting and quite logically while isolating certain muscle groups we are more likely prone to creating stronger areas and thus weaker links that will not only limit development but make the individuals more prone to injuries. In simplest terms as an unfortunate rule of thumb most modern gym facilities are designed to train the extremities and by-pass the core of the body’s structure.” – Rotational Axis Training (John Davies)

Don’t be mistaken Renegade training is not just for the athlete but for the “ordinary” individual that desires a better quality of life. Contact a trainer today.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Dedham Strength & Fitness

Do you appear confident? You may think so but take a look at your posture. Are your shoulders rolled forward and your back hunched? If so, then both proper posture and the appearance of confidence are surely lacking. Posture speaks volumes in either helping to exude confidence, if correct, or detracting from it, when poor. Today, most people have poor posture as a result of sitting for extended periods of time. Working on the computer pulls the body forward as the natural tendency is to bring the shoulders forward and hunch the back.

The only way to counteract the effects of improper posture is to train with proper posture. Posture must be maintained when raising and lowering a weight. Renegade training constantly reinforces proper posture. Each exercise is performed with shoulders squeezed back and butt pushed back to a neutral position. Over time weak muscles will begin to be strengthened and correct posture will ensue.

Increase your confidence both physically and mentally, contact a Renegade trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Dedham Strength & Fitness

One of the things I love about Renegade training is the challenge. No matter the exercise or the length of time training, it is intense. This is due to the methodology of employing full body movements. It is this challenge that keeps me motivated, striving to become more proficient with each session. While many individuals prefer the easy over the difficult, I do not. Easy exercise is boring and offers little benefit. If I am working out I want to maximize the time by getting a great workout every time.

I often chuckle to myself as I very frequently catch others, as they sit on a piece of equipment, looking over at me in amazement as I perform full body, full intensity, movements. I don’t have time to sit. I sit when I am relaxing, not when I am exercising.

Are you tired of boring machines and not witnessing any results? Contact a Renegade trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com

With the world’s dependance on technology for communication, I can’t help but think back to a paper I wrote in college. I had proposed the idea that the Internet would severely restrict human contact. We would find ourselves alone, immersed within cyberspace, human interaction a thing of the past. I can’t help but chuckle to myself when I think about how incorrect I was in my assumption of technology and the part it would play in our lives years beyond 1997. The effects technology have had are completely opposite of what I proposed. Due to technology, we have gained access to global communications in the convenience of our own homes. It has made our world smaller allowing for convenient and frequent interactions in a matter of seconds. With just a simple click of the mouse anyone can communicate to hundreds of people anywhere in the world.

Even though technology has had a positive effect on communication it has also had some negetive effects as well. The ease and convenience that has made our lives easier has also made us lazy. We spend more hours sitting, surfing the web, and chatting than we do moving. As a result, I would like to remind everyone of the word, moderation. Moderation allows us to keep our lives balanced. Without it we end up losing sight of what is important especially in terms of health and well being.

Although technology is wonderful, it is important to get out exercise and live life. Keep your life balanced, contact a Renegade trainer today.

Jennifer Calderone
jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com

Do you believe hypertrophy is a sign of athleticism? Today, we are consumed with the visual and are led to believe that certain physiques and body types are more beautiful and more valuable than others. Yet these images are not indicative of function, health, or athleticism. However, many males still spend hours in the gym lifting different body parts creating overly inflated muscles, because they believe this will make them a better athlete. The problem with this is hypertrophy is counterproductive to speed and other elements essential to being a great athlete. Most of these pumped up individuals are far from athlete and in fact clumsy. That is a result of isolating the muscles and not training the body as one unit. The systems within the body do not communicate as they should and fail to be fluid and graceful. These same pumped up, seemingly strong, males that can lift or squat hundreds of pounds, will very often fail when attempting to hold up their own body weight in a simple table exercise.

If your current workout regimen is focused only on hypertrophy than it is missing other essential components of true athletic training. Contact a Renegade Trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com
Hordonhealth.com

The definition of health needs to be redefined. Health is not the next fad diet. It is not the next exercise craze and it is certainly not just a matter of losing weight. Skinny does not mean healthy. A lean person can be as unhealthy as an overweight one. In terms of health and weight loss, the only way to obtain health is through a proper diet of healthy foods and regular exercise. Most individuals, as a result of misinformation, view weight loss incorrectly. Instead of attempting to get healthy, they attempt to lose weight when in fact it should be the other way around. A lean figure is a result of health. If you are consuming the correct foods and working out regularly, the body will become lean and toned as body fat decreases.

For more information on changing your definition of health, please contact me.

Jennifer Calderone
jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com

Recently, while out to dinner I began observing many of the patrons at the restaurant as I waited in anticipation for my order of filet. I noticed several women wearing revealing attire and began to think about why this is. I arrived at the conclusion in the oddest of ways. My dinner arrived and the petite filet looked divine, I couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into it. It was grilled perfectly, slightly pink on the inside with juices intact. I cut a piece and bit in, however, my palette quickly became overwhelmed with salt and could barely taste the meat. This fine piece of meat was ruined with salt. Suddenly, I began to think of scantily clad women in the same regard, “over salted.” I came to the conclusion the reason why many women dress in such a revealing manner is to overcompensate for being overweight, underweight, insecure, unhealthy mentality and/or physically. By employing over-the-top clothing, make-up, and hair, attention is redirected to something other than their flaws.

Instead of optimizing beauty from the standpoint of health by eating properly and working out regularly, many women buy into quick fix topical solutions. These can never do for beauty what a diet of nutritious food and exercise can. For more on this topic don’t miss the January issue of DMC.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health

Now that 2010 is upon us, I have already witnessed an influx of individuals at the gym. Whether it is due to new year’s resolutions to get fit and healthy, lose weight or simply due to the excess calories consumed over the long holiday season, this is one of the busiest times of the year for gyms and healthclubs. Most individuals begin the year with the best of intentions, yet as the days pass, weeks progress these good intentions slowly begin to fade. For many, it may only take a day of poor eating or not working out to throw them completely off track. They never return to the gym or initiate a cycle of poor eating that doesn’t stop. However, this does not have to be the case. Don’t become defeated because you’ve fallen off track. If you miss a day at the gym or make a bad food choice, forgive yourself and simply return to the gym and begin to eat better the very next day or at the very next meal. Remember two days of not working out is better than 6 months of not moving and one bad choice is better than weeks of poor choices.

It is important to cut yourself some slack when adopting new habits and making a lifestyle change. For more tips and continued motivation throughout the year, contact a Renegade trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
www.hordonhealth.com

Over the holidays I went away to visit family in Pennsylvania. Determined to work out, especially after endless hours sitting in a car, and no gym nearby I was forced to be creative. However, utilizing the principals of Renegade and the family farm, I was able to put together a great workout that was far different than what I am normally accustom too. The farm with its uneven terrain, hills, and acres of land, provided a variety of unique physical challenges. At each and every turn, I kept my body working hard never knowing what to expect. Best of all, I was able to perform a wide array of movements just with what was present. My workout consisted of a 15 minute jog both up and downhill, bear crawls, push-ups, log tosses, sprints uphill, depth jumps, and stair sprints. For those that travel often or enjoy variety, please understand a tremendous workout can occur anywhere.

As you begin your own physical journey of 2010 keep in mind thinking outside the box often serves one far better than staying trapped within. Contact a Renegade trainer in your area.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
www.hordonhealth.com