Friday, March 8, 2013

On This Day In Strength History

Alois P. Swoboda was born on March 8, 1873. Charles Atlas was quoted as saying that "everything he knew he learned from A.P. Swoboda.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

On This Day In Strength History

March 6,1894 Eugen Sandow performed for Edison’s motion picture.

Live Fit Health Club

Timothy and I had the opportunity to visit Jonathan Logan at Live Fit in Belmont, NC yesterday. I'll have to say we were very impressed. Check Jonathan's website out at:
http://livefithealthclub.com/

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Please visit and "LIKE" our new FSS FACEBOOK page.

Please visit and "LIKE" our new FSS FACEBOOK page.

FSS FACEBOOK PAGE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Functional-Strength-Systems/352044054894627?ref=hl

On This Day In Strength History

Other than Apollon himself, the first to lift the Apollon Wheels was Charles Rigoulet on March 3rd, 1930. Rigoulet, a Frenchman, was a World Weightlifting Champion and is credited with the first 400 pound Clean and Jerk in history!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

10 Ways Flax can help Fight and Prevent Diabetes:




Flax seed is a low glycemic food and helps stabilize blood sugar levels for longer.


  Flax is a whole grain.

  Flax is an excellent source of fiber -helping your feel fuller longer.

  Flax has Omega 3 -which makes your brain feel satiated and helps stop cravings!

  Protein in flax helps the body get nutrition that takes longer to digest and process helping provide more nutrition for longer.

  Flax hull lignans help heal the body lessening or preventing complications from diabetes.

  Flax prevents spikes in blood sugar and keeps blood sugar levels more stable for longer.

  Research has shown that flax for diabetes as part of a daily diet can help lower and stabilize blood sugar levels.

  Flaxseed is an easy thing to add as part of a balanced diet and can make dramatic differences in your blood sugar as well as overall health.

  Many of our own customer's have told us stories of how they have tried flax for diabetes and of the successes they have had in lowering and stabilizing blood sugars.

Read more:
http://www.ellies-whole-grains.com/flax-for-diabetics.html#ixzz2M84uwaLZ
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Saturday, February 16, 2013

On This Day In Strength History


February 16, 1936    John Grimek was the first to lift the Rolandow dumbell overhead in the bent press style.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Strength History

Came across this pic a few days ago. Thought it was interesting...

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Protein Shake Recipe


Protein Shake/ smoothie I had today.
1/2 cup of greek yogurt
tablespoon almond butter
1/2 banana
1/3 cup blue berries
cup skim milk
scoop whey protein
1/2 cup oatmeal
Used as a meal replacement. Makes two servings. Give it a try....

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

8 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM


8 TIPS TO BOOST YOUR METABOLISM

 

 

By: Rob Wess: cpt, csct, csn

 


 

 

WHAT IS YOUR METABOLISM?

It is the energy or calories required for maintenance of the body while it is at rest.

As we age our metabolism slows down. Our natural aging process causes the body to become less efficient at burning calories. This can be counter balanced by good nutrition, staying active and participating in a regular fitness program.

 

The body is constantly in a state of homeostasis (trying to keep things in balance). This includes how the body burns calories and how efficiently nutrients are absorbed from the three macro nutrients: Carbs, Fats and Proteins. This is why regular exercise, good food choices and a balanced, nutritious diet, along with plenty of water and rest is the best approach for long term health. It simply allows the body to perform its job more efficiently.

 

Here are eight tips to help boost your metabolism:

 

Eat Breakfast

While sleeping, your body has been without any nutrition, usually for approx. 6-10 hours. The effect is no different than going for hours during the day without eating. Doing so puts your body in starvation mode, at which time the body actually stores fat and only burns calories necessary to keep things working. Starting the day off with a good wholesome breakfast revs up the metabolism and gets the calorie burning process in high gear while providing mental and physical fuel.

 

Build Muscle

Muscle burns more calories than fat. So the more muscle you have the more calories your body burns. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder, but a regular strength training program along with regular cardio exercise is the first step in getting your metabolism revved up.

 

Get Enough Calories

You have to take in enough calories to fuel your daily activities. When calories are too low, the body reacts as if it is in starvation, buy slowing down its energy expenditure (metabolism) thus conserving body fat.

 

Good Food Choices

Calories are burned during digestion. Some foods require more calories to digest than others. Lean protein burns the most during digestion followed by complex carbohydrates. Refined sugars and flour are low in nutritional value and burn the least amount of calories. They should be avoided as much as possible.

  • Protein choices should include turkey, skinless chicken, lean beef, fish, egg whites, skim milk, Greek yogurt and low-fat cottage cheese.
  • Include Carbohydrates from dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, oats and brown rice as well as apples, pears, grapefruits and berries.
  • Don’s skimp on the Fats! Include essential fat choices from olive oil, nuts, flax seed, flax oil, fish oils and yes…a little fat from meat, eggs and dairy products too.

Including a source from each of these macro groups with each meal provides a wholesome, balanced meal that will aid in loosing body fat.

 

Eat Less & More Frequently

Eating smaller more frequent meals helps maintain a constant blood sugar level, which helps minimize blood-sugar swings that may cause cravings and overeating. These larger, less frequent meals makes the body think it may be some time before the next meal is available, causing it to conserve and store fats. Smaller meals trick the body into thinking an abundance of food is available so the metabolism speeds up.

 

Drink Plenty of Water

The body is made of approx 70% water and blood plasma is about 90% water, so drinking plenty of water helps the body metabolize fat more efficiently by increasing blood volume, which in turn delivers more nutrients and oxygen to the cells and tissue of the body. This allows the body to expend more energy and function more efficiently overall.

 

Get Enough Sleep and Reduce Stress

Get enough sleep…seven or eight hours every night and keep stress levels to a minimum. Both lack of sleep and stress interfere with hormone production which disrupts the metabolism.

 

Tap Into Your Internal Energy

Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga are healing arts that use soft flowing movements to open up the energy meridians of the body. Practice of these arts improves flexibility, internal energy flow, as well as reducing stress and tension, which helps bring the digestive processes back in balance.

 

 

Rob Wess is a Certified Personal Trainer, Strength & Conditioning Trainer and Sports Nutritionist with over 25 years experience in the fitness industry, including extensive involvement in amateur bodybuilding and power lifting as a drug free competitor. Rob’s best lifts include a 450 squat, 290 bench press, 490 deadlift in the 148 lbs. weight class at age 45. Currently serving as the IBP N.C. chairman (Iron Boy Powerlifting). Rob can be reached at: 1getfit@gmail.com

 

Sunday, January 13, 2013

On This Day In Strength History


Jules Bacon died on January 13, 2007 at the age of 89. He was 1943 Mr. America.

FSS Powerlifting Seminar Yesterday

We had a wonderful time yesterday. Would like to thank everyone who came out and participated in the seminar. Hope the information was beneficial.

Pictures on Facebook

Friday, January 11, 2013

FSS Powerlifting Seminar


Looking forward to seeing everyone. Flex Gym and Functional Strength Systems have donated some great door prizes. Y'all come out to the gym at 2pm Saturday!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

On This Day In Strength History





Dr. George Barker Windship was Born Jan 3, 1834. He held several lifting equipment patents in the late 1800's. He made a dumbbell that could be adjusted in half pound increments from eight pounds to one hundred and one pounds. He invented the forerunner of the Universal Machine.



This is a lifting apparatus designed and built by George Barker Windship, MD. It was patented in 1893, and is a forerunner of the Universal Machine.


www.functionalstrengthsystems.com

Monday, December 24, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

Dec 24, 1924 Charles Rigoulot weighing 192.25 lbs cleaned and jerked 336.25 lbs; he was age 21.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

December 19, 1936 Sig Klein bent press the Cyr dumbell.
The 273 lb. dumbell, a huge thick handled one, was lifted to the shoulders with two hands, before the single handed overhead move.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

Roy Hilligen was born November 15, 1922.   He was 1951 Mr. America.  Roy was on the covers of all the muscle magazines of the time (some several times), he was arguably the strongest man in the world for his size. Weighing 173, he equaled the world record in the Clean & Jerk with a lift of 375 pounds.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Thursday, October 25, 2012

On This Day In Strength History




www.functionalstrengthsystems.com


Ron Walker died Oct 25, 1948. He held no less than 21 British Heavyweight records. This included One Hand Snatches of over 200lbs, and most importantly today, a Two Hands Snatch of 297½lbs.

This Snatch of 135kg in December 1936 was the first ever World Record on one of the Olympic Set performed by a British lifter.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

On This Day In Strength History


October 23, 2010 Warren Lincoln Travis was inducted into the  Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Hall of Fame.Warren Lincoln Travis was perhaps America's first famous strongman. Emerging on the strength scene near the turn of the 20th century, Travis become famous for back lifting and other feats with massive weights that had been made popular by some of the great European strongmen. Based in Brooklyn, he traveled the country, and even outside the US, displaying his strength and challenging all to try to duplicate a combination of ten feats that Travis preferred. He became truly famous after winning jewel encrusted belt offered by the Police Gazette, then the most widely read sporting publication in the US. He died when he was in his 60's, shortly after performing on on his beloved Brooklyn stage.

Monday, October 22, 2012

On This Day In Strength History







Vic Boff was born on October 22, 1917, in Red Lion, PA.He was the founder of the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen. Renowned for his encyclopedic memory regarding the Iron Game, Vic was consulted by anyone interested in Iron Game history.

Friday, October 19, 2012

On This Day In Strength History




 
 
www.functionalstrengthsystems.com

OCT 19, 1940 Tony Terlazzo, at 148 lbs, pressed 250 pounds, snatched 245 pounds and cleaned and jerked 330 pounds.

Monday, October 15, 2012

ON THIS DAY IN STRENGTH HISTORY

John Davis set a world record on10/15/1950 with a Total of 462.5 kg in the Super Heavyweight class at Paris.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

October 14, 1954 Norbert Schemansky cleaned the Apollon wheels on his first attempt and jerked them three times.

Friday, October 12, 2012

On This Day In Strength History



In 1955,Bernarr MacFadden developed a urinary tract blockage which he attempted to treat by fasting. October 7, unconscious and near death, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital, but doctors could do nothing to save him. He died Oct. 12, 1955.

Bernarr Macfadden (1868 - 1955), the "Father of Physical Culture"
Bodybuilder, Health Advocate, Nutritionist,
Teacher, Author, Publisher, Resort Owner,
Founder of Physcultopathy

Thursday, October 11, 2012

On This Day In Strength History


Louis Cyr was born on October 11th 1863 in St. Cyprien, near Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
In 1886, Cyr competed against his rival Michaud for the Canadian title of strongest man. Lifting a 218-pound barbell with one hand he won the title of Canada's Strongest Man.
During this time Cyr was considered by many to be the World's Strongest Man.
 

Friday, October 5, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

Oct. 5, 1996 - Norb Schemansky, George Paine, Malcolm Whyatt received the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Highest Achievement Award.

Friday, September 28, 2012

On This Day In Strength History

Dudley Allen Sargent born on September 28, 1849.  Professor Dudley Allen Sargent was a physical culture pioneer who turned Harvard's Hemenway Gymnasium into the center of the training world in the late 1800's.
His motto was "mens sana in corpore sano" or a sound mind in a strong body.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Special Olympians Compete at the IBP SPRING FLING

It was wonderful to see the Special Olympics youngsters lift at the meet in Marion. I want to congratulate Nelda Newton on the great job she did training these lifters. The time Nelda has spent with these kids in the gym certainly paid off. Congrats Nelda

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Congrats to Nelda Newton and Josh Ingram

Nelda Newton and Josh Ingram represented FUNCTIONAL STRENGTH SYSTEMS at the IBP RAGE IN THE CAGE PUSH PULL last weekend in Marion, NC by winning Outstanding Lifter awards. We would like to congratulate both of them.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Last Week in Marion, NC

Broke away from our normal Thursday workout and went outside for some "Strongman" stuff. It was a lot of fun.

Friday, January 20, 2012

New FSS Trainer

January 20, 2012 -- Functional Strength Systems is proud to announce Nelda Newton as our newest FSS Trainer. Nelda is an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer as well as a certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition. She also is very experienced and knowledgeable in the field of weight management. Welcome Nelda, we look forward to working with you.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

On This Day In Strength History


John Henry Davis was born on January 12, 1921, in Smithtown, NY. He grew up and rose to weightlifting fame in Brooklyn, NY. John won the US Nationals 12 times, set numerous world records, won 6 World Championships and 2 Olympic Games. At the Weightlifting Nationals of 1941 he became the first man in history to exceed 1,000 pounds in the three-lift total. Davis made 1005, breaking Steve Stanko's historic 1,000-pound American total record that had been set in April of 1941.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

On This Day In Strength History


Joe Rollino bending a spike with his teeth.

On January 11, 2010, Joseph Rollino  known as the Great Joe Rollino, the Mighty Joe Rollino or the World’s Strongest Man passed away after being struck by a van while out for his daily five mile walk. The 104-year-old Brooklynite, who once lifted 635 pounds with one finger and lifted 475 pounds with his teeth,  who once lifted 3,200 pounds at Coney Island during its heyday was still bending quarters with his fingers at age 104. During his storied life, Rollino hobnobbed with Harry Houdini, watched Jack Dempsey knock out Jess Willard and was friendly with Mario Lanza. He even had a bit part in "On the Waterfront."             

Thursday, December 22, 2011

On This Day In Strength History

Ron Walker was born on Dec 22, 1909.
He held no less than 21 British Heavyweight records. This included One Hand Snatches of over 200lbs, and most importantly today, a Two Hands Snatch of 297½lbs.

This Snatch of 135kg in December 1936 was the first ever World Record on one of the Olympic Set performed by a British lifter.

Friday, December 16, 2011

On This Day In Strength History


Pierre Gasnier died on December 16, 1923. Gasnier was born in France and was one of the first most influential of the old time circus strongmen and performed for Barnum and Bailey Circus. Gasnier stood only 5’ 3 tall and weighed just 143.5lbs and was able to lift a dumbbell weighing 260 lbs over has head.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

On This Day In Strength History


November 22, 1935 Tony Terlazzo became first American to lift a International Weightlifting Federation world record.

FSS Deadlift Clinic

We had a great day in Marion this past Saturday. FSS was pleased to conduct a Deadlift clinic at Club Fitness. We would like to thank everyone who participated.
Check out the pics.
http://www.functionalstrengthsystems.com/11FSSDLCLINICnov19.html

Friday, October 7, 2011

FSS Marion, NC Training Video

On This Day In Strength History


Oct. 7, 1989 - Marvin Eder received the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen Highest Achievement Award. Eder’s feats of strength include a 515-pound bench press, squatting 550-pounds for 10 deep reps, 12 one-arm chins and a 365-pound overhead press. At the 1951 Pan-American Games tryouts, he surpassed the world record in the press with 337 at a bodyweight of 192.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

X-Cross Knee Wrap Technique




X-Cross Knee Wrap

Here is my version of what I am calling the X-Cross knee wrap technique. I’m sure there are just about as many opinions on how to wrap a knee as there are people doing it. Hopefully this will lead you in the right direction if you are new to knee wrapping.

Steps
·         Start with a tightly rolled wrap.
·         Before commencing to wrap make sure the leg is extended, the knee is locked out and the toes are pointing upward slanted back toward the shin.
·         Begin wrapping just below the knee cap.
·         We recommend wrapping the leg from the inside, pulling the wrap over the top (front) of the leg. This is said to help your knees stay to the outside during the squat. I’m not convinced it makes that much difference but I’m sure it doesn’t hurt.
·         Wrap from bottom to top while covering about half the previous wrap as you go up.
·         Stretch the wrap and keep it tight with each rotation.
·         Once the wrap has reached the lower thigh just above the knee, the next wrap should move downward crossing the knee cap from the inside leg.
·         Wrap around the leg (at the bottom of the wrap below the knee) and move upward across the knee cap toward the lower thigh.
·         Wrap around the leg for the last time (at the top of the knee) and tuck the end of the wrap under the previous wrap.

At this point, your leg should be wrapped from the upper shin to the lower thigh with the last of the wrap crossing your knee cap from both directions in an X pattern.

Do’s
  • Wrap the knee tightly. How tight is up to you. Obviously the looser the wrap is the less knee support you will experience.
  • When wrapping the “X” across the knee, make sure you wrap directly across the knee cap.

Don’ts
  • Do not use too much wrap below or above the knee joint. Most of the wrap should be utilized around the knee joint.
  • Don’t forget to wrap over at least half the previous wrap. (The wrap should always overlap.) There should be no skin showing under your wrap when you have finished the squat!
  • Don’t waste the wrap (pulling it through and) tying it at the conclusion. Excessive wrap should not be left dangling. It is most helpful when wrapped around your knee.

The knee joint is much more stable when wrapped properly. It is our opinion you should always wrap your knees when attempting to squat maximum weight.

The X-Cross is a simple and common knee wrapping technique. There are certainly more complex techniques but this is a good one to start with.

FSS will post more knee wrap techniques on the website in the near future. Let us know if you have questions. We will be more than happy to be of assistance if we can.

Keith Payne


PS- When I started to write this article I found it very hard to verbalize this technique so we have also produced a video that will hopefully explain this article further. It is also posted on the video page of this website.

On This Day In Strength History

On October 4, 1947, Bob Peoples pulled the “mythical” 700-pound deadlift in
the Bob Hise Show, an official contest in Chattanooga’s YMCA. When the bar was weighed it was 699; nonetheless, this world record
in the 181 pound class outstripped the world record held by Carl
Pepke, by 32 pounds.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

On This Day In Strength History

September 27, 1879 Adolph G. Pitz was born in Germany. Pitz did some remarkable feats of strength having performed a "One Arm Press" with 178 pounds and a "Two Arm Press" with 220 pounds at a body weight around 165 pounds.

Monday, September 26, 2011

On This Day In Strength History

Joseph Curtis Hise died September 26, 1972. 
Hise is known as the father of American weightlifting. He is especially famous for creating the well known 20 rep breathing squats program.

Friday, September 23, 2011

On This Day In Strength History

Sanislaus Zbyszko died September 23, 1967. He was a strongman and professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s. He was one of the most influential European grapplers of all-time, he was also among the sport’s great pioneer champions.

Monday, September 19, 2011

On This Day In Strength History


Walter Podolak was born September 19, 1909.
The Golden Superman Walter Podolak made some very fine lifts as a super strongman. He pulled six cars with his teeth; lifted over 500 pounds in the teeth lift; one arm military pressed 131¾ pounds with a dumbell; bent pressed 305; back somersaults with a 50 pound dumbell in each hand; alternate pressed 100 pound dumbells for 42 reps, and was one of the first men to clean & jerk over 300 pounds.