Renegade

Forget the myriad of gadgets marketed for balance including the Bosu ball. I am sure many of you have witnessed individuals standing on a Bosu ball attempting to balance. Not only is this device absurd but it is not necessary. There are far better ways to attain balance that does not involve this silly ball. In fact, the kettlebell is such an item. It is not the actual bell that promotes balance, but balance is acquired as a result of lifting the bell through various complex movements that activate the same musculature required for balance.

Renegade training prepares an individual’s mind and body to be adept at reacting to the chaos that occurs both in life and on the playing field. It does so by training on a variety of different terrains so when the unexpected presents itself you can react. By doing so the body is prepared to handle literally whatever comes your way. However, there is absolutely no instance where you will ever need to be prepared to stand on a Bosu ball. The gym is the most stable environment there is and neither representative of the chaos of daily life nor representative of the “fog of war” found on the playing field.

Stop wasting time training for balance, get off the Bosu ball. Train for the unknown, prepare for the unknown, be able to handle the unknown. RENEGADE – a completely balanced training program.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Nutfit @ Dedham Strength & Fitness

Everything is better in brown, I thought to myself as I tossed a brown recycled paper napkin into the recycle bin. Not only was this made from recycled materials but another tree was saved because of it.

Food is another such item that is better in brown, particularly carbohydrates. Although many still fear consumption of “too many carbohydrates” as a result of the numerous fad diets that touted reducing or eliminating these from our diets, they are the body’s number one energy source.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, these diets are inaccurate. Carbohydrates provide the body with essential nutrients and should be consumed daily. The only thing to be concerned with are the types consumed. When food shopping remember the phrase, “everything is better in brown.” This refers to unrefined minimally processed carbohydrates. They are high in fiber, take longer to digest and make the body feel fuller longer. These include but are not limited to brown rice, wheat pasta, whole grain breads and cereals.

For more information regarding a nutritional sound diet, please contact Jennifer Calderone at jcfitnessfirst@gmail.com.

Jennifer Calderone
Hordon Health
Dedham Strength & Fitness

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

I’ve posted several blogs regarding nutrition because it is crucial to achieving results and health. I know this firsthand, as prior to any certifications; I was like many of you. I had no idea what to eat but was looking to become healthy and increase energy. I was taking cardio kickboxing classes three times per week to shed some additional weight but often found myself with little energy to propel me through the hour long classes. I had reduced my carbohydrate intake but not changed much else about my eating habits. In fact, I still recall the frequent trips to Subway after class. Finally, frustrated with the diet info that was out there, I began my own research into what constituted healthy foods. I began to integrate these foods into my diet and got rid of all else, especially trips to Subway and other processed foods. As a result, my energy level increased and my body fat decreased. Every week I shed more weight. What had originally taken me six months to loose 10 pounds with exercise alone, now only took me three months by combining both exercise and nutrition. Best of all I am now healthy and fit.

I am currently a certified nutrition manager and personal trainer. For more information, please contact me. Nutrition appointments are handled via phone so location is not an issue.

Jennifer Calderone
jcfitnessfirst@gmail.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