Eric Troy 
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| Watch for reference padding, especially with shorter articles. This is the practice of including hundreds of references to support a claim although only a few are necessary. Be aware that most of the references are probably unrelated or only loosely so. Tip Credibility: 17 |
| Be skeptical of discoveries that are announced to the public in advance of the actual scientific establishment (a peer reviewed journal). Or never presented to the scientific community at all. Real science is not done on youtube. Yet! Tip Credibility: 16 |
| Beware of the Gallileo Argument, which appeals to your sympathy. "I am persecuted and suffer for my claims and therefore must be right". The fact that folks like Gallileo and Copernicus suffered for their claims does not lend credence to the claims. Tip Credibility: 25 |
| To let your thoughts flow, don't judge them, comment on them, or analyze them unnecessarily. This will simply create more "stoppage". Try visualizing your thoughts as cars going by in an intersection. The light eventually turns green and you can cross. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| The concept of positive mental cues is not the same as "positive thinking". If plagued by worry thoughts or performance doubts trying to block them or think positive is as much a mental trap as the thoughts themselves. Instead, let your thoughts flow. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Thoracic kyphosis (increased thoracic flexion) is commonly associated with a postural distortion known as the kyphotic-lordotic posture in which kyphosis is accompanied by lumbar lordosis/anterior pelvic tilt, and forward head posture. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Using too much muscle rub before a workout, or using it over too wide an area can cause annoying and uncomfortable sweating (excessive) and a feeling of being overheated. Use sparingly and let the act of massaging in the rub aid you rather than too much. Tip Credibility: 14 |
| Muscle rubs such as tiger balm products and certain horse linaments can be use to help trouble joints like shoulders, knees, and wrists warm up before a hard strength workout. But do NOT wrap an area that you have used a rub on! Tip Credibility: 7 |
| Static stretching pre-workout can temporarily sap your strength and affect your coordination. Dynamic stretching does not have this effect. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Static stretching is not warming up. Never perform prolonged static or passive stretching pre-workout. Tip Credibility: 7 |
| For your pulling exercises like deadlifts, the basic type of grip strength you need to train is supporting. Dead hangs, static holds, farmers walks, and thick bar training are good examples. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| One way that excessive forearm training can harm or limit actual grip strength is by altering the length tension relationship between the muscle groups responsible for producing a strong grip. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Although the large muscles of the forearm are key in supporting and crushing grip, forearm training is not necessarily grip training. Actual grip strength exercises should come first in priority over wrist curls, etc. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| The ACSM recently claimed that exercise protects us from colds. Cited was Nieman's claim that multiple studies show a decrease in sick leave. The studies are elusive to search and regardless, less sick leave is not synonomous with fewer colds. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Fitness experts may claim their methods are superior because they cover all grounds. Fitness is task specific. Being fit to run is different than being fit to lift. Likewise to fight off disease. There is overlap but there is always give and take. Tip Credibility: 6 |
| Most heart attack and strokes happen in the early morning hours. There is no evidence that early morning workouts improve resting blood pressure as many claim. An easy walk to get the day started to ease into the day is better for those at risk. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| You can't consciously control every muscle movement during a complex lift. Verbal weight lifting cues should not be instructions but rather "triggers" that you have preconditioned yourself with. The trigger words will spur you to an automatic response. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| When you make a mistake lifting don't dwell and ruminate on your mistake. Never visualize dong something wrong! Focus on what you can do BETTER. E.G. if you let your lumbar round during deadlifts visualize your back arched and think back set and arched! Tip Credibility: 50 |
| Blood pressure rises in the morning and dips in the afternoon. Early studies seem to show that morning exercise raises blood pressure. If you are hypertensive or at risk for heart attack/stroke it may be best to work out late afternoon or early evening. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| The big four micro-nutrients, calcium, iron, vitamins C and A, are the only ones required by FDA regulations to be listed on the nutrition facts panel of food labels. Others may be listed on some labels but only these are required. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| When comparing foods with sites like NutritionData remember the top panel only lists the "big 4" micro-nutrients, calcium, iron, vitamins C & A. Look further down the page to get the full vitamin/mineral picture. You can also use the USDA Food Search. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| "Exercise builds immunity" has been repeated so often it has become common belief. There is little evidence for this. Immune factors in trained athletes fall well within the normal range. Exercise has many benefits but don't expect it to stop the flu. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| When learning and practicing a new strength training exercise as well as when working out flaws you pick up during training, focus on what TO do not on what NOT to do. E.G., during deadlifts think "chest up" rather than "don't let my shoulders drop". Tip Credibility: 50 |
| A hallmark of panic attacks is rapid shallow upper chest breathing. Learn proper diaphragmatic breathing to achieve full breaths. Breathe into the "belly" first and imagine that you are filling the lower, middle, then upper parts of your lungs. Tip Credibility: 50 |
| By convention weightlifting spelled as one word means the Olympic lifts: the Clean and Jerk and Snatch. Spelled with two words it's lifting weights in general. Also try "strength training" or "resistance training" as search terms for general lifting. Tip Credibility: 6 |
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