In This Issue
– Robertson Training Systems Updates
– Testimonials
– Training Tip
– Nutrition Tip
– Exclusive Interview: Eliot Feldman
– Upcoming Interviews
– New Articles
– Schedule
Robertson Training Systems Updates
More updates on the Indy Seminar
A few notes on the upcoming Indy Seminar:
– We’ve sent a mailer to all NSCA certified coaches/trainers in Indiana and the surrounding states. If anyone you know needs CEU’s, be sure to let them know about this event!
– For those of you who wanted more information on the specific topics, be sure to check out the updated seminar page. Bill and I have written up a brief paragraph describing each topic and what we hope you’ll learn from it.
Testimonials: Bulletproof Knees
“Bulletproof Knees is a highly informative and well rounded product that educates coaches and trainers on the knee. I have implemented many of the techniques for hip and ankle mobility and have seen tremendous improvements in the overall stability of my athletes’ knees. Another great product by Mike Robertson.”
Brandon Johnson, CSCS
Xfortitude, LLC
Training Tip
Take pictures
Whether your goal is to improve your posture and alignment or lose a massive amount of body fat, you absolutely HAVE to know where you’re starting from. Taking “before” pictures may bruise your ego, but you’ll never really know where you’re at until you do this.
“After” pics are great on the back-end as well. While others may notice results in you within a few weeks, if you don’t take before and after pics, you may start to trivialize the progress you’ve already made as changes within yourself are harder to monitor. Quite simply, before and after pics are a great way to determine if your programming/diet is working as you expected.
Nutrition Tip
Cook Whole Chickens
By Mike Roussell
I LOVE cooking whole chickens. As John Berardi says in Gourmet Nutrition when you sit down to eat a whole chicken, that let’s people know you are serious about protein.
Whole chickens are great for several reasons:
1. They are extremely versatile, and
2. They are usually good for one meal + leftovers.
You can cut off and eat the chicken breasts with some vegetables and quinoa, brown rice, or a sweet potato for a post workout meal. Then remove and dice the meat from the thighs, drumsticks, and wings. Combine this with some low fat mayonnaise, curry, green onions, and a diced up apple to make a curry chicken salad that would make a great anytime meal over a bed of baby spinach. Ready to go Rotisserie chickens are becoming very popular and can be found at almost any supermarket. These make for great last minute on the go sources of lean protein (just skip the skin).
Exclusive Interview: Eliot Feldman
MR: Eliot, it’s a pleasure to have you here today. If you don’t mind, please take a moment and introduce yourself to my readers.
EF: I am a 45 year old former professional baseball player and grew up in Queens, New York. I have lived in Philadelphia for the last 25 years. My wife, Deb Hairston, and I live in the Mt. Airy section with our two dogs, Reece, A Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Magoo, a Border Collie/ Aussie mix. I own a mortgage company with offices in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, California and Florida and am a partner in several real estate ventures.
MR: What originally got you into powerlifting?
EF: I attended Temple University where I played baseball and powerlifted for a quick minute. In 2002 I left my job in player development with the Phillies and was searching for an outlet for my competitive drive. I met a USAPL lifter name Jerry Hill and he got me started again. He was an inspiration. Jerry was ex-Marine Force Recon and an NCAA wrestling champion. He started me right out on a Sheiko program and I haven’t looked back.
MR: You’ve been doing this for a while now – what advice would you give to someone who is just starting out in the sport?
EF: First, get proper coaching. Find a gym with powerlifters and pick their brains. Go on the forums and hook up with a mentor. Jerry Hill and Rob Wagner have been instrumental in helping me be my best. Put your ego aside and learn. Having lifted for 5, 10 or 15 years doesn’t make you a powerlifter: Powerlifting makes you a powerlifter. Second, learn the rules. Many lifters never succeed because they have no idea what is required for a good lift. Third, compete as often as you are able your first several years. This will allow the lifter to learn the pace of a meet and become comfortable on the platform. Competition defines the powerlifter. Watch the elite lifters and follow their lead. Fourth, go to the next level. If you qualify for a national or international meet, accept the bid even if you feel unready. Most lifters show a huge increase in their total after making the jump to the next level. Exposure to better lifters brings out your best. Lastly, have fun!
MR: As a member of the USAPL, you’re currently on the Executive Committee (EC). What does this mean exactly? What does the EC do?
EF: I was elected to the Executive Committee by vote of the NGB. The NGB is comprised primarily of duly elected State Chairs, Athletes Representatives and others. My term is for three years and I serve at the pleasure of the NGB and the Officers of USAPL. The NGB is akin to Congress while the EC corresponds to the Executive Branch. Full power, management, and control of USA Powerlifting reside with the Executive Committee outside of the yearly NGB meeting. All business done outside of the annual meeting is conducted by the EC. Securing the USAPL as the Powerlifting vendor at the 2008 Arnold Fitness Festival was accomplished by the EC and the EC-appointed Arnold Committee.
MR: As a powerlifter and member of the EC, where do you see competitive powerlifting in the next 5-10 years?
EF: I see greater quantity and quality of drug testing both in-meet and out-of-meet. The USAPL has had a great impact on the IPF and its’ drug testing policies and procedures. The best scenario would be to have an outside agency handle the entire process. The Arnold will have an impact and allow more sponsorship dollars into the sport. Eventually we may be able to parlay this into coverage on ESPN or Versus.
MR: What mistakes have you made along the way with regards to your training? And then, what did you do to rectify things later on?
EF: I’ve been pretty lucky with my training. Rob Wagner has been directing my training for the last several years and he is a true genius. My projected numbers are reproduced on the platform. Rob and I have been working to discover weak points and eradicate them. In the last year we have worked on perfecting my squat set up and improving hip flexibility and hamstring strength to increase the deadlift. The greatest problem most trainees have is letting their ego control the workout. Many lift greater poundage in the gym than they do on the platform.
MR: One of the things I enjoy the most about powerlifting is the camaraderie and friendships I’ve made as a result. Could you give us an instance where this was true, or possibly share a friend you’ve made via the sport of powerlifting?
EF: I met my wife, Deb Hairston, at the 2004 North Americans in Ft Lauderdale. She is an American record holder in the bench, my training partner and biggest supporter. Many of the top lifters have contributed to my involvement in Powerlifting. Ed Coan, Wade Hooper, Mike Bridges and Brad Gillingham have provided great support and advice. Robert Keller, Larry Maile, Johnny Graham and Lance Slaughter have supported me even when I faltered. I met Jason Beck in 2004 when he returned from duty in Iraq and have helped coach him at Nationals and Worlds ever since. He has turned from a good lifter into a true beast and an even better friend. I would be remiss if I forgot the Jersey Boys: Jerry Daly, Ron Falcone, Bill Clayton, Brian Callahan, Joe Mac and the Benemerito brothers. I can’t go anywhere in the world without running into one of them. From the start they adopted me as one of our own. I’ve made friend with dozens of IPF lifters: The entire Canadian team, Andy Donner, Markus Schick and Gunda von Bachus of Germany, Peter Koitka of Australia, the team from Great Britain the list is almost endless. I’ve come to know and admire IPF President Detlev Albrings and IPF Vice-President Susumo Yoshida. Each meet old acquaintances are renewed and new friendships are established. The Powerlifting fraternity is the greatest in the world.
MR: Eliot thank you very much for being with us here today. How can my readers get in contact with you if they have questions about USAPL or powerlifting in general?
EF: My email is [email protected]