Back and Spinal Fitness at PUSH as Rx leads the field with a laser focus on supporting our youth sports programs. The PUSH-as-Rx System is a sport-specific athletic program designed by a strength-agility coach and physiology doctor with a combined 40 years of experience working with extreme athletes.
The program is the multidisciplinary study of reactive agility, body mechanics, and extreme motion dynamics at its core. A clear quantitative picture of body dynamics emerges through continuous and detailed assessments of the athletes in motion and under directly supervised stress loads.
Exposure to the biomechanical vulnerabilities is presented to our team. Immediately, we adjust our methods for our athletes to optimize performance. This highly adaptive system with continual dynamic adjustments has helped many of our athletes return faster, stronger, and ready post injury while safely minimizing recovery times.
Results demonstrate clear improved agility, speed, decreased reaction time with greatly improved postural-torque mechanics. PUSH-as-Rx offers specialized extreme performance enhancements to our athletes no matter the age.
The core and the muscles involved are a group of muscles that wrap around the body’s torso. The front, back, and sides. Strengthening these muscles will improve and ultimately alleviate lower back pain. One of the main muscles that are overlooked is the transverse abdominis muscle. It is vital to a healthy core, especially if back pain is presenting. It’s known as the seatbelt muscle as it is deep in the abdomen and wraps around the waist. It has everything to do with long-term core strength and function. A properly developed transverse abdominus functions like a lumbar support belt that protects the spine. When the transverse abdominus is strong the muscle contracts to generate the correct amount of support and stability when in motion. �
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For example, individuals that do not have low back pain engage the transverse abdominus around 30 milliseconds before moving the shoulder, while individuals that have low back pain have a delayed contraction of the transverse abdominus muscles that makes them take on awkward postures, and move in an awkward fashion contributing to back pain and continuing to weaken the core muscles. Individuals that regularly do transverse abdominus strengthening exercises greatly reduce the risk of experiencing low back pain for the first time and reduce the recurrence of those already with back pain. �
Core Muscle Anatomy
The first step to strengthening is understanding the moves and how to do them correctly with basic anatomy. Think of the core as a muscle box where the:
The body flexes and extends whenever bending forward and standing up
The body does a lateral side bend when bending the trunk to one side
The body rotates the trunk when twisting the torso
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Muscle Weakness
The transverse abdominus tends to suffer from neglect which is one reason why it becomes weakened. This increases the risk of developing back pain. Another reason is that individuals have a weak muscle is they exercise in one-plane of movement. Not working out the core muscles in all planes of motion can contribute to back pain. For example, if an individual performs pelvic tilts, they are only moving in one plane when tilting the hips forward and back, known as flexion and extension. To achieve optimal/functional strength, the core workout needs to include side bending and twisting movements. �
Strengthening The Transverse Abdominus
Pigeon Pose
Many individuals sit for extended amounts of time and are excessively tight along the sides and hips. The first step should be to increase the hip’s mobility before strengthening the core. If the hip muscle’s fibers become shortened, it can affect hip joint function and efficiency during core movement. The Pigeon Pose is a hip opener. How to do it:
Get on the floor with the knees and palms on the ground.
Slide the left leg back so the hip is extended, then externally rotate the right hip/turn the right leg out from the hip. Focus on positioning the right shin perpendicular to the body.
Extend the trunk so the body is upright, lifting the chest, arching the back, and looking toward the ceiling, while resting the fingertips on the floor a little forward of the hips.
Hold the pose for 30 seconds and switch sides.
This stretches the hip flexor muscles in the extended leg and the rotator and outer hip muscles in the flexed leg.
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Pay Attention To The Engaged Muscles
Individuals can train the transverse muscles to activate faster and more effectively throughout the day by slowing down and paying attention to moving with more intent. Place the hands around the waist and engage the core to feel the muscles contracting. This will help get a feel for the movement. Once comfortable remember to engage these abdominal musclesbefore and while reaching, twisting, or lifting items. �
Pelvic Tilt
This exercise is vital for building the smaller muscles that support a healthy core. How to do it:
Lie on back with knees bent and feet on the floor.
Engage the transverse muscles and gently tilt the pelvis upward.
Return the pelvis to a neutral position.
Repeat.
Start with 3 sets of 10-12 reps.
When this is no longer challenging and can be completed without increasing back pain, advance to more challenging exercises like the bird dog, planks, or plank variations.
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Standing Exercises
Translating core strength into functional strength and pain-free movement progresses to standing exercises that require rotation. One example is a standing lunge with rotation. How to do it:
Get into a lunge stance with the front leg flexed 90 degrees at the hip, knee, and ankle. The rear leg should be extended at the hip with the knee touching or almost touching the floor.
Twist from the waist. When comfortable doing this movement, hold weight like a dumbbell, medicine ball, or gallon jug of water in both hands, and gradually increase the weight as the muscles get stronger.
When in the process of strengthening the core, consistency is the key. Commit to a short workout every day instead of one massive workout once or twice a week. Ten minutes a day is enough to build strength, improve function, and decrease back pain. �
Improved Body Composition
Functional fitness and the ability to move about comfortably not only benefit physical wellness but also improves body composition. The aging process reduces the metabolic rate, which leads to increased body fat. Lean Body Mass gets lost from age and inactivity. Lean Body Mass contributes to the overall Basal Metabolic Rate, also known as the body’s metabolism. It is the number of calories the body needs to support essential functions. Engaging in strength training or resistance exercises will help regain the muscle loss from aging/inactivity, and can lead to an increase in lean body mass.
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
References
People who regularly engaged in TVA-strengthening exercises were less likely to experience a recurrence of low back pain:�Australian Journal of Physiotherapy�(2002), �Specific spinal exercise substantially reduces the risk of low back pain recurrence��www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000495141460283X?via%3Dihub
Belly dancing has been found to be an effective way to help individuals managing low back pain. It could be utilized as a part of a chiropractic treatment plan. The dancing is beneficial for improving posture and allows an individual to improve their fitness with a light form of aerobic exercise.
Regular physical activity/exercise and a healthy lifestyle go hand in hand. For individuals with spinal issues, the right stretches and exercises can make a difference in their quality of life. It increases:
Strength
Flexibility
Helps with pain management
Improves posture
Maintains spinal alignment
Belly dancing can help with injury recovery, as well as overall health. For most the trouble with exercising regularly is that it becomes routine and boring. Individuals want to live healthily, but it can be a challenge to maintain interest and motivation. An alternative form of physical activity that qualifies as exercise could be the answer.
Dancing has grown in popularity because of its fitness, flexibility, and spinal benefits. This form of belly dancing exercise does not require any special outfit or plenty of space. This utilizes the movements as a form of stretching and keeping the body moving in an aerobic fashion. They can be done at home with video instruction or an online class. Although the majority are women, men can and do belly dance.
Belly Dance
Information on the history of belly dancing. The dance has gone through various transformations since its inception. It was once considered burlesque entertainment, is now recognized as an important cultural expression, and today has been found to be a respected form of dance exercise.
Isometric exercises are contract specific muscles or groups of muscles. These types of exercise help with strength and stability enhancement. Both are vital for individuals recovering from back injuries or back pain management.
Posture
Dance posture is different than normal standing or sitting posture. Dance posture refers to the way an individual prepares/maintains their body to perform specific movements so that the motions are fluid, graceful, and with no presentation of pain. Belly dance posture maintains proper spinal alignment, which encourages reduced stress/pressure on the joints. This is beneficial for individuals managing back problems. The keys to spinal success are:
The knees should be slightly bent and not stiff so as not to pull/strain the lower back muscles
When the abdominal and back muscles maintain/support a straight spine, this alleviates stress on the low back. Lower back issues have shown a positive response to a belly dance exercise therapy program. A study looked at the effects of belly dancing on pain and function in women with chronic lower back pain. The study found that belly dancing made movements of the trunk and pelvis that are known to influence low back pain much easier.
A belly dance program in conjunction with a chiropractic or physical therapy treatment plan can help alleviate pain and improve function. A 45-minute belly dance routine/session promotes aerobic benefits, improves flexibility and core strength.
Core Strength
These are movements that train the muscles in the:
Pelvis
Abdomen
Hips
Low back
They help build strength, generate stability, protect against back pain, poor posture, and muscle injuries. Having core strength is crucial for individuals with back issues, as it increases the stabilization of the spine. Core strengthening is highly recommended and often prescribed for individuals recovering from lumbar issues.
Depression/Anxiety Improvement
Individuals with back pain also tend to experience psychological issues like depression and anxiety. Back pain can affect:
Mood
Tiredness
Sleep problems
Self-esteem problems
Belly dancing as part of a treatment/therapy program can help an individual experience benefits that improve mental health and well-being. These include:
Regaining mobility
Having a positive body image
Social interaction is enhanced
For All Ages
Belly dancing is a fantastic creative outlet and a great way to exercise. Anyone that is able can participate. Children, seniors, and everyone in between can get into belly dancing. It enhances health and strengthens the body and mind. When the body is in the proper position/posture there are no joint issues or pain. In-person classes, at home with online instruction, DVDs, or video meeting apps can benefit the body and especially the spine.
Life-Changing Orthotics
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Weightlifting and chiropractic go hand in hand as a perfect team. Everyone in some way can utilize weightlifting, whether it’s for general exercise, strength training, rehabilitation, bodybuilding, looking and feeling good, spinal health matters. When the spine and the body’s central nervous system work in harmony, muscle function is at its optimum.
Many individuals consider health care to be a reactionary function. The proverb if it’s not broken, then don’t fix it, is an approach currently being applied to various health conditions. Only after an individual exhibits or feels ailment symptoms is when they’ll see a medical professional. Weightlifters are thought to be generally more in tune with their bodies. But they are no different in that many do not seek medical attention until symptoms present.
Bodybuilding involves lifting heavy weights while maintaining proper posture and balance. Weightlifters, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts know that balance includes a healthy diet and combining fitness training with a positive mindset. Individuals involved in exercise/fitness regimens know that the muscles need time to recover and build new tissue.
Weightlifters, athletes, and overall fitness enthusiasts are discovering chiropractic medicine and its benefits. Fear of the unknown is usually the biggest reason for people not seeing a chiropractor. But for athletes, weightlifters, etc., not seeing a chiropractor, they’re usually worried they will have to stop training/competing for a while. Whatever the reason/s for not seeing a chiropractor, here are five for seeing one that everybody and every bodybuilder should know.
Chiropractic Mind and Muscle
Distractions in weightlifting will almost always result in an injury. The mind and body need to be balanced when working out. Just adding more weight or doing more repetitions will not create the best bodybuilder. Professional weightlifters know that it’s not about working harder but working smarter. This is where chiropractic enters the picture.
All the body’s muscles connect to joints or the spine. The joints and spine must be properly aligned for the muscles to work in proper balance. In today�s world, it’s all about the quick fix. Whether it’s a pill for whatever or fast food, however, some things need time and proper care to flourish. Chiropractic and bodybuilding are two of those things.
A Spinal Shift Makes WeightLifting Harder
When the spine is not aligned, the muscles on one side of the body are forced to work harder than the other side. This is a perfect injury set-up. An example is doing bench presses with one foot firmly on the ground, with the other using only the toes. That is the picture when the spine is out of alignment. Working out with an uneven foundation opens the doors to injury/s.
A chiropractor can discuss the best bodybuilding routine that will get results, give diet/supplement recommendations, and advice on proper lifting techniques, as well as stretches and flexibility exercises. They see the changes in the body before any pain is felt. Based on this, they can decrease the potential for injury.
Minor Injuries Lead to Severe Injuries
Many weightlifters believe if they feel pain after a workout, it means it was a good workout and is considered a sign that the muscles worked to the maximum. However, this is not always true. Microtrauma injuries are not always detected because they can hide behind minor muscle pain after a heavy workout.
Microtrauma injuries are small tears in the connective tissue and the fibers of the muscle itself. These micro-tears can cause swelling that is not seen but can be felt. This type of trauma needs proper recovery time to heal. And if treatment is not sought out, it can increase the risk for severe injuries later. These include:
Ruptured ligaments
Joint function loss
Fractures
Bodybuilders who receive regular chiropractic adjustments also benefit from having one-on-one discussions about strength, diet, power, or pain they’re experiencing and get sound advice/recommendations. The chiropractor will know the difference and will know how to prevent further injury.
Weightlifting and Maximum Potential
Professional weightlifters understand that a combination of natural approaches and utilizing these resources will bring optimal results. Bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness lovers are utilizing chiropractic to stay healthy, fit, and aligned. It is a perfect team, fitness, and chiropractic.
Weightlifting makes the body stronger. This comes from the added stress on the bones, muscles, and joints, which causes them to adapt. However, there is also an added strain that can misalign the spine and pinch the nerves. Pinched nerves cause lower levels of muscle strength and the development of scar tissue. Individuals might not be aware as this condition does not always cause pain.
Chiropractic involves adjusting the spine back into its natural, proper position. This allows the muscles to achieve maximum potential. Protein supplements and powders can also help. Chiropractic relieves the stress that occurs from weightlifting and releases the subluxations. Regular chiropractic prevents injuries, helps injuries heal quickly, and allows for continued training with modifications depending on the patient’s case.
Alleviating Pain and Preventing Injury
The muscles function and perform based on the signals sent and received through the central nervous system. When an injury occurs to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, or other body areas, inflammation and swelling occur. Inflammation is not all bad and is a good sign that the body has been injured, needs attention, and deals with the injury.
But communication needs to be relayed for this to happen. When the joints in the spine are out of place or are not moving properly, the information can be scrambled or cut off. This can make it feel as if everything is fine, when there should be pain or when something hurts in one area when the pain is located in another area. Chiropractic restores function to joints, re-aligns the spine, and improves range of motion. This opens up the communication lines completely and allows the body to heal on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can I go back to lifting? It depends on the individual case, but most go back to training the following day if there are no injuries. However, discuss the matter with a doctor.
Can a chiropractor adjust a big muscular individual? A chiropractor knows how to manipulate the body to don’t have to be stronger than the individual, no matter their size.
Can I adjust myself? Chiropractors are trained doctors that know where to apply specific movement and pressure to a joint that is causing problems.
Do I need chiropractic because my back doesn’t hurt? An individual does not have to be hurt to benefit from chiropractic. Chiropractic can be utilized to improve performance and as a preventative treatment.
Can chiropractic help with difficulty sleeping after workouts?Tension and stress, as well as tight muscles, are irritating to the central nervous system. Hot baths can help relax the muscles. Chiropractic helps release tension, relieve stress, leading to a better night’s sleep.
The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own health care decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified health care professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.
Understanding the cause of spinal stenosis is important for accurate diagnosis and in creating a customized optimal treatment plan. The cause of spinal stenosis is categorized as either primary or acquired.
Primary means the stenosis could be congenital or since birth. Some individuals are born with a spinal canal that is narrower than normal. This is a rare occurrence. Signs or symptoms of primary spinal stenosis do not present until adulthood usually around mid-life.
Acquired spinal stenosis can develop as a result of:
Bone overgrowth brought on from wear and tear from osteoarthritis on the spinal bones can form bone spurs, that can grow into the spinal canal.
Paget’s disease is a bone disease that affects adults, and can also cause bone overgrowth in the spine.
Herniated discs – The discs can begin to dry out with age and form cracks or tears letting out the soft inner material creating pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
The ligaments are tough cords that hold the bones of the spine together. They can become stiff and thickened with age and time. The thick ligaments can then bulge into the spinal canal.
Tumors or abnormal growths can develop inside the spinal cord, in the membranes that cover the spinal cord or inside the space between the cord and vertebrae.
Spinal trauma/injury like automobile accidents, sports, and other trauma can cause dislocations or fractures of the vertebrae. Pieces of bone from a spinal fracture can fall into and damage the spinal canal.
Back surgeryswelling of tissue immediately after can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerves.
Acquired Spinal Stenosis
The leading cause is wear and tear on the spine due to aging. The most common direct cause is osteoarthritis, where the cartilage that cushions the joints begins to degenerate with age. The cartilage is smooth when brand new. As the body ages, the cartilage can become rough and can wear through completely. This allows the bones to rub against each other. The rubbing produces small bone growths called bone spurs.
Individuals with these symptoms try to limit movement and limit pain from the bones rubbing together. However, individuals can’t stop moving entirely, and less movement reduces the quality of life. The bone spurs can create other types of pain. Inside the spine, the spurs can narrow the spinal canal, which can compress the spinal cord or nerve roots.
Risk factors for osteoarthritis and disc problems include:
Lifting heavy objects without using proper lifting techniques.
This can damage a disc or move the vertebrae out of proper alignment.
Prevention
Spinal stenosis prevention is about practicing lifestyle habits to improve and maintain spinal health. For those with stenosis, regular exercise combined with proper body mechanics will help reduce the risk of the spinal stenosis becoming worse.
Exercise
Exercise, done properly, strengthens and protects the spine from the everyday wear and tear and helps maintain body weight. Being at the proper weight puts less pressure on the spine. Gradually build up the workout sessions until comfortable. General exercise guidelines are to go for 30 minutes a day. This in combination with aerobic activities like walking or swimming and resistance training like yoga or weight lifting. Stretching out regularly is highly recommended as an effective way to lengthen, loosen, and warm up the spinal muscles. Here are some basic back stretches and exercises for spinal stenosis.
Body Mechanics
Proper posture along with proper body mechanics are some of the best ways to prevent stenosis from developing/progressing and ensures the health of the spine. They should be practiced all the time:
Sitting
Standing
Lifting heavy objects
Sleeping
Proper mechanics and posture keep the spine operating at the top level even when doing regular/normal activities. Even though aging is the primary cause of spinal stenosis, does not mean to not be proactive about spinal and general health. Exercise and proper mechanics give the back and neck a strong defense system against cervical or lumbar stenosis that will serve for years.
Chiropractic Care For Auto Accident Injuries
Dr. Alex Jimenez�s Blog Post Disclaimer
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
Indoors or out, bicycling can be great for an individual’s back with proper preparation. With everything that is going on, many individuals are getting creative with their workouts. Many are turning to home or outdoor exercise. Bicycling is considered a safe activity. According to the NPD Group, bicycle sales have tripled in sales since March.
However, back pain could be affected by a biking routine. Whether a newfound hobby or regular activity, individuals need to prepare and plan ahead before getting out on the trails or on a stationary exercise bike and avoid developing or aggravating back pain. Here are a few essential tips to create a safe and back-healthy bicycling experience.
Understanding back pain
Bicycling is a type of aerobic exercise that can help with overall health. Done regularly it can improve the heart and lungs’ performance. Other areas of the body like the spine along with the musculoskeletal system, also benefit. For some, it is an even better form of exercise than jogging or aerobics, as it can be less jolting on the body and spine.
Back pain during cycling is rare except when individuals try to push the intensity level beyond their normal workout. If there is back pain from an unknown cause it should be looked into by a doctor, physical therapist, or chiropractor before beginning a regular bicycling regimen.
There are certain spinal conditions where bicycling can benefit. Individuals that bike ride with conditions like degenerative disc disease and lumbar spinal stenosis can experience relief in the back and legs, as it�s an exercise in which flexes the back. But there are spinal instability conditions like spondylolisthesis, that create forward flexion and can worsen back and leg pain. Therefore it is essential to attain a diagnosis before committing to regular bicycling.
Talk to a Doctor
Before starting any exercise program, talk with your doctor to find out if you are healthy enough for this type of therapeutic workout. Those with present back pain issues also need to be cleared by their doctors. But more than likely if they are already following a treatment plan, their doctor would have them doing some form of stretching/exercise as part of their plan, and they just need to find out if riding a bicycle is OK. Once cleared, even with chronic mild back pain an individual can initiate bicycling into their regimen.
Reasonable workout
In addition to safety basics individuals need to:
Wear a helmet
Wear highly-visible clothing
Get their bike serviced for optimal performance
Add reflectors
Add lighting
Have a workout/training plan
As with any exercise, there should be a training plan that will be sustainable and help to avoid injury. Set small goals, especially when beginning. Go for an achievable distance or workout time. Then gradually build up and don’t rush. Allow yourself to go through the experience, learning as much as you can.
Both indoor and outdoor biking require a thorough warm-up and stretching of the body. This definitely includes the spine, that needs some time to loosen up, properly. A healthy comfortable bike seat or saddle with the proper height for body type and inseam is vital. Being uncomfortable while trying to perform therapeutic exercises plus the added possibility of worsening the injury or creating a new one from a stock seat is not worth the risk. At the end of the ride, cooling down is strongly advised.
Pay attention to form/mechanics
When it comes to biking technique, there is no particular form that is ideal or the best.� Always try to be in a position where the spine is comfortable. This type of bicycling is low-impact and should be fluid in motion. Poor posture, jerking motions of the spine, neck, or not using the proper equipment can cause poor mechanics and increase the risk of injury.
Indoor bicycling
Cycling indoors could be safer for individuals that do not have access to safe bicycling areas or are older. Options include spin class or stationary bike. Both are set in a controlled environment with accidents being a rare occurrence. Outdoor biking happens on the road, bike path, sidewalk, or terrain where there is potential for an accident. With the machine or class, individuals can:
Choose the workout type
Fitness level
Intensity
Workout duration
Heart rate
Resistance
Spin classes also follow the pattern with a warmup, a specific workout, and a cool down. However, there are the mental health benefits of being outdoors. Whatever is best for the individual, it is up to them to ride the bike outdoors, indoors, or a combination of both. It is an excellent form of exercise, as it:
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, and sensitive health issues and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate and support directly or indirectly our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We also make copies of supporting research studies available to the board and or the public upon request. We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation as to how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900. The provider(s) Licensed in Texas& New Mexico*
PODCAST: In today’s podcast, Dr. Alex Jimenez, chiropractor, and Kenna Vaughn, health coach, introduce Jeremy McGowan and Taylor Lyle, both experts in nutrition and strength training, as they discuss the differences between what is athletic strength training vs what is military strength training. By sharing a wide variety of nutrition and fitness recommendations, Jeremy McGowan and Taylor Lyle bring their knowledge and experience to El Paso, Tx where they offer performance improvements and injury recovery wherever they are needed. Dr. Alex Jimenez, Kenna Vaughn, Jeremy McGowan, and Taylor Lyle share what it is they do in their careers to provide overall health.� – Podcast Insight
[00:00:18] All right, guys, we’re here today. We’re excited. It’s a real special day for me here in El Paso because as you guys know, my job is to advance the science of wellness and fitness and to bring people that we have in El Paso to the forefront and to, you know, kind of show the individuals that are out there and the options we have. A lot of people don’t know. I’ve been out here for 30 years and I’ve seen El Paso kind of develop over the last three decades. And I’ve been nothing but proud to see the young kids and young men that are heading to the fitness programs all around the city, along with the insights that they’re bringing from where they come from people coming from all over the world. We have Olympians. We have specialists. We have top trainers, power trainers, fitness trainers, Crossfit trainers all around the world. These individuals bring a huge amount of talent and they all do the same thing. They get old. And as we get older, they were once the best in the world. And they come back and they share with. If you’re an Olympian and you know what? For the youth. So we bring certain individuals that have sciences and technologies. And some people are in the middle of their flight, in the beginnings and in the new starts of their lives where they actually bring us some great sciences. Today we have Jeremy McGowan and Taylor Lyle. These were two individuals that we brought in last time and we’re gonna hopefully have them come back and share with us their technologies. Jeremy brings a background. He works in the military, really smart guy. All these kids are really smarter than I am. It’s a beginning of time where we can see that the knowledge that the military has brought out has brought really great talent from around the world. [00:02:11][113.8]
[00:02:12] Jeremy is from Panama City, correct? Yes, sir. Yes. And Taylor, where are you from? Dallas. Fort Worth. [00:02:17][5.5]
[00:02:18] Dallas, Fort Worth. And one of the great things that I love about this, this whole story is that they’re here in El Paso and a lot of people don’t know this. And their expertise and knowledge are not only for us to to to benefit from, but they’re benefitting and they’re teaching the people that are here, the military, through their sciences and their techniques and their specialties and their licenses. So we really, really do have a moment in time where now the world is advancing in El Paso. So what I’d like to do is I’d like to say, introduce, you know, Kenna Vaughn. She’s over there on the side so you can see her. She’s there, she’s out. She’s anchoring on the side, making sure that my cameras work well and that I don’t stutter too much. Then we have Taylor Lyle and we have Jeremy. Jeremy McGowan. Correct. Yes. OK. And what we want to talk about a little bit about fitness training and the ideas about specifically about strength training, nutrition and as it pertains to collegiate sports and as well as power training for the military. So these kinds of sciences are very important for people to correlate. Now, do they cross lines? They cross lines for athletes in high school. So these sciences and these techniques are going to be good. But I like to know a little bit about Jeremy today. Jeremy, welcome to the show. And the people are here watching and they’re interested in understanding what it is that you do. So tell us a little bit about what you do and what you’ve done and where you came from. And we’ll leave it from there. Go ahead. [00:03:42][84.7]
[00:03:43] So, like you said, first, I’m from close to Panama City, Florida, a little tiny, small town. I went to Troy University on a baseball scholarship. It’s a D1 University in Alabama, close to Montgomery. So southeast Alabama, played there for five years. Soon as I got done playing slid right into coaching, I coached there for a little bit over three years. I ran baseball and softball, mostly assisted with other sports, the football, volleyball, soccer. A lot of others. Got offered a job out here to slot into the military side of things to coach. Getting really turn it down. Really, really enjoy what I’m doing here, running the physical training programs or the PT programs for a battalion at Fort Bliss. So I’ve worked with two separate battalions. We run the PT program, reconditioning program and then we work hand-in-hand. Kind of help write their PT programs so that when we’re not with them, they have a better idea of what to do. [00:04:36][53.1]
[00:04:37] I got a question for you. And you said that you’re an athlete going back to that. What position did you play? I pitched. You pitched. Oh, so you’re the dude. You’re the man. [00:04:44][7.0]
[00:04:45] You know, I was a closer started a little bit, but mostly closed. I really just tried to throw as hard as I could. That’s about it. Were you good? I like to think so. But you know some people might tell you differently. [00:04:57][11.8]
[00:04:58] Well, don’t be modest. Don’t be modest. You gotta say that you’re good at what you do. You know where I came from when I was a little boy. We got to see this out here in Mexico. We got this guy named Fernando Valenzuela. Well, remember that guy. Yeah. [00:05:11][13.4]
[00:05:11] Man was he was a Dodgers. Oh, man. I remember this big chunky looking dude that just could rip the ball. Definitely it didn’t look like he was a pitcher. But really, you know. But here’s the thing. Here’s the thing that I know now that I didn’t know then that people who got strong cores can really, really propel their force. Right. And this dude had a thick core, he busted up some gloves. Oh, hey. So let me ask you, what did the military see in you that they wanted to provide for this local community? [00:05:44][32.8]
[00:05:45] So the way that it kind of worked this whole program started as a very small pilot. There were five strength conditioning coaches and that was the first people on the ground. So that was it. And then it expanded. Now there are 60 coaches across a few bases in the U.S. So basically they needed qualified coaches that had an experience. So they wanted guys that had been a strength coach, you know, three-plus years, whatever, to lead the way. The assistants could have a little bit less experience but had to be certified, had to have a little bit of experience in the field so that they could get some, you know, guys in the run PT programs that were used to running large groups. So they wanted guys mainly from the collegiate side because we’re a little more used to running large groups, the private sector as well, depending on where they were at. Obviously, if they’re, you know, only working there for a very small amount of time, it might not be as much, but… They really wanted to focus on, you know, the qualifications, so having that Master’s degree and having that call and having that certification was the main thing. [00:06:44][59.0]
[00:06:45] I’ll tell you what, I saw you’re, clearly that you’re a really, really smart that both of you guys have resumes that are just amazing. And I got to tell you, the talent that the military brings this town is amazing. So don’t feel shy. Go ahead and tell people you got the big ‘ol Masters because that’s huge because you’re only one step away from a Ph.D. Let me ask you this because that’s very curious. The military has different departments, different battalions. What is it? [00:07:07][22.2]
[00:07:07] How many people in the battalion, the one that we were in originally there was around 410, 450. This one’s larger. So there are five companies. Each company is comprised of around 100 people. So there’s upwards of 550 in the battalion right now that we work with. [00:07:22][14.3]
[00:07:22] I’ll tell you what, we’re used to running a little bit of a Crossfit center. We’re actually coming from the Push Fitness Center. And 20, 30 kids at one time is a lot. How can you manage the largeness or the immensity of those groups together? [00:07:34][12.2]
[00:07:35] We kind of set up circuit style training for the most part. So we try to run stations with them. Luckily, I do have another strength coach, it’s not just me. So that helps a lot. We split the group up into two. Normally we’ll run a lifting type station and then a running type station and one of us will run each and we get about the halfway point. We’ll switch. So he’ll come over if I’m running the training. The strength training station to begin with. We’ll just flip flop. So he’ll bring his group over the straight training. I’ll take my group of the running and we’ll do that for the last half. So we usually have around outside tops around 80 people in a group. It would be the most that we would have and we would have 40 and 40 apiece. [00:08:09][34.0]
[00:08:10] Jeremy so you can pretty much see all these guys in different, I guess, techniques whether this is a running area. This is a strength area. You can see them all line sight kind of in the distance. [00:08:19][8.8]
[00:08:19] Yeah. That’s the goal. So with the strength training sessions, we set up kind of a semicircle on those stations so that I can just walk around the semicircle and then be able to see everyone. [00:08:29][9.6]
[00:08:30] And then as far as the running goes, it’s normally we do more anaerobic style training, some more sprint type work so that we can be right there telling them, you know, running the rest times, telling them, you know what, Tom, we’re trying to be on the run, whatever might be so that we can actually manage it a little more. [00:08:44][13.8]
[00:08:44] Wow. Taylor, we’re gonna get with you in a second there, so go ahead and drink some water. We’re going to get to you in a minute. But I got to ask a question for you. When you look at as a strength coach, do you have a deep-seated philosophy and the way things are done? And I assume and I don’t know, it seems like you’re beginning’s were with baseball. Correct. How do you apply that? That science and the level of mechanical sciences to the different kinds of levels and different types of specialties in the military. Let’s say you got some. Right, you know. I don’t know what kind of things they do. Let’s say the mechanics versus the heavy-duty artillery gunners. How do you change that up for them? [00:09:20][35.9]
[00:09:21] So one thing that’s really, really changed over for me with baseball to this is obviously with baseball I worked, with a lot of overhead throwing athletes. So a lot of shoulder problems, a lot of shoulder stability, things like that, that I was really trying to work with something that I’ve noticed in this military sector because of the way they’ve trained for so long. There they have a lot of shoulder injuries. There’s a lot of shoulder problems, a lot of instabilities as far as their, you know, way overcompensating. Their shoulders are starting to round from doing push-ups for so many years and not getting the proper training along with that. So having that expertise on that side of things, it’s helped me a lot as far as training, you know, different types of people. So I work in a BSB right now, so I haven’t really worked a whole lot with infantry, BSB Brigade Support Battalion. [00:10:06][45.2]
[00:10:06] Okay, got you. [00:10:07][0.4]
[00:10:07] We have a lot of mechanics, medics, communications people. It’s not a whole lot of high-speed guys. So we’re not really working with a lot of infantry type people. [00:10:17][9.7]
[00:10:17] We’re not working with a lot of guys that are really, really out there and really, really active. So a lot of the times, the people that we work with, the main things that we’re working on is landing mechanics, proper lifting technique, because we do have guys that have to lift some heavier stuff with transport and stuff like that. And in landing mechanics, guys jump out at trucks all the time. They’re in big, tall trucks, whatever might be. So those two things are something that we really try to work on so that in their day to day jobs, they don’t get hurt. [00:10:46][28.6]
[00:10:46] You know, when you say landing mechanics, whether it’s volleyball or anything, you know, that’s got to be the almost second nature. Oh, yeah. You know, I’ve seen that in the last couple of the last decade or two. I see the philosophy changing in the military, specifically in their ideas and their fitness goals. Recently, they’ve done some changes in their new programs where they actually if you don’t pass these certain things, you don’t even get the vacation time or even have even time to or migrate up in the ranks. But based on this performance, I’ve heard a lot about this ruck thing. What is this ruck thing? Yeah. Yeah, I heard. How much weight is it? Because they don’t care if you’re a 180-pound person or a ninety-five-pound lady, they’re still going to carry the same weight. [00:11:27][40.8]
[00:11:27] So there are different size rucksacks. It can be depending on really what your unit wants for that day or what type of thing you’re doing. So. Sure, you might have heard of the Baton Death March that happens here once a year. Yes, it did. So there are two separate standards for that. There’s a military light and the military heavy on the rucksacks are different. I don’t remember the exact way, but I want to say it’s 40 and 80 pounds. OK. If I remember right. Could be wrong on that. But it’s somewhere around that. And so that’s the light standard and the heavy standard as far as what they do in a normal setting for a rucksack. They kind of set it up for themselves. So basically, if a unit’s going on a ruck, they might tell you, hey, load it with as much as you want. Here’s how long we’re going, be able to do that in this fast. So they get to kind of pick their rucksack weight, depending on what they can handle. [00:12:13][45.6]
[00:12:13] Is it 40 through 80 or 40 and 80? [00:12:15][1.8]
[00:12:16] So in the baton it’s 40 and 80. But if they set it up themselves, they could do 40 through 80 as just depending on what they want to run with. [00:12:23][6.6]
[00:12:23] Yeah. You know, what do you look for in terms of an individual in order for them to say, oh, this dude’s going to just kind of wreck his back or he’s going to mess his shoulders up? What do you how do you tweak it so that you can kind of help them not get injured? [00:12:35][12.3]
[00:12:36] It’s, so posture’s a big part of it. Again, a lot of guys have rounded shoulders, so that translates over into the ruck as well. Well, they’ve got a heavy rucksack on their back. They start to hunch over round their back, their shoulders are already rounded. So you’re putting a lot of stress on the back, which I know you’re kind of the guy for that. [00:12:54][18.0]
[00:12:55] Oh, my God. I live with that every day, you know. Oh, you mean how we treat them? [00:13:05][10.2]
[00:13:05] You know what that can do to a back. And, you know, so there’s an issue that we try to fix. We do a lot of pulling, a lot of rows, a lot of rear delt work to try to get those shoulders back right. And stop the hunching. Stop the rolled shoulders. So that’s one thing that we try to do. And then again, as far as the lower body goes, proper gait is something that we try to work on, on the PTs work on that a little bit more than we do. But proper running mechanics, proper gait can obviously help with a lot of hip ankle knee issues. That a lot of guys have when they’re out there because they’re on uneven terrain. A lot of times rucking. They’re wearing their boots. You know, they’re not necessarily in the best running gear. So we try to do as much as we can to combat the problems that that can cause. [00:13:49][43.5]
[00:13:49] I find this to be so amazing that the both of you guys are here. Taylor, I know that you guys work together and I know we were introduced with you and the vast amount of expertise that you have and shared with us last time. But how do you guys interact? How does the diet world and the physical training world work together with Jeremy’s dynamics? [00:14:09][20.3]
[00:14:11] Yes. So we work hand in hand. I mean, you really can’t train without nutrition. So I’m out there a lot of times at the P.T. sessions, whether I’m trying to participate myself or just help the soldiers. So, you know, just making sure that they eat something in the morning, that’s a big issue that we see, is that they don’t have enough energy. And they wonder why they can’t finish their workout sometimes. So, you know, that is something that we both preach and then making sure that they eat something afterward, whether it’s going straight to breakfast or they’re getting some type of post-workout recovery modality. So we work with that. And then, you know, I do quite a bit of one on one counseling. And so a lot of times when I’m meeting with a variety of soldiers, you know, strength and conditioning come up in my conversation and we do a referral system. So I’ll refer them to Jeremy and, you know, follow up with him. And then, you know, a lot of times they’ll meet with them individually, give them a training program. And so we’re constantly urging communication with the best practices and, you know, how do we work towards the common goal. [00:15:25][74.0]
[00:15:26] So, you know, Jeremy, in terms of when you look at someone and you see them, they’re just they need help. You know, this kid is. He means well. But you can see him falling apart because you get that instinct like this kid’s going to blow out at something. He’s just not there. He looks ashy. He’s not eating well. How do you bring in Taylor in this dynamics, in that situation? [00:15:47][20.4]
[00:15:48] So a lot of the times I can really see it closer to the end of a workout as she said. Their energy levels are just low. You know, they can’t even, during the break period, they’re sitting down, they’re lying down. They’re trying to drink something and they can hardly drink as their stomach’s upset, you know. So I can tell pretty quickly if somebody has not eaten or is struggling with the nutrition side of things. And if that’s the case, then I’ll tell them, hey, you know, we’ve got a dietitian. We’ve got somebody that can help you. I can help a little bit in terms of telling you you need to eat something before you come out here. But she can help you, you know, in a better way than I can. [00:16:22][34.2]
[00:16:23] You guys coordinate a little bit. Kind of like this one is going to be a rough one. OK. We need to know where they’re going. They’re gonna be on the floor today. [00:16:29][6.4]
[00:16:30] There are some times that, you know, we can tell, you know, I can tell when I set up the circuit, like, okay. These guys are gonna get broke off a little bit, you know, and especially the ones that I’ve looked at and I know that she’s talked to, I’d make sure with them before those days. Hey, did you eat anything? And if not, then, you know, I’ll try to help out as much as I can, like, take breaks, you know, make sure you eat something next time, though, because this is how the sessions are going to continue to be for right now. [00:16:58][28.1]
[00:16:58] Guys, can you feel what I’m seeing, guys? And I’ve got to tell you when I started here in 1991, literally the military treated from my vantage point, again, I’m civilian and I don’t have to follow the rules, but like, they are set up there. But I could sense that the world was like Full Metal Jacket. It was really intense. It was a really harsh environment. And as you can tell, these two individuals are the forefront of the military to this day. So one of the things is I have to ask you both one question. Do you guys care about your guys? Oh, yeah, yeah, yes. You know what I got to tell you? You know what? I see this from the captains. Now, the world in the military is totally pro. There are people in a way that I have never seen go back two decades ago, three decades to 1991. I could not even get my hands on a military patient. They just would not let anyone outside the military take care of the people today. You guys are. Are you in the military? Both of you. No. No. [00:17:55][56.2]
[00:17:55] Contractors. See they’re bringing in the outside world. They’re also letting the inside go out. It’s awesome to see that because from my point of view, the caring that’s involved had to move from the top down and to have you guys from around the world, there’s got to be some amazing crew of people recruiting you guys. And I got to tell you, it makes me very proud because from the senators, you know, that actually made the Fort Bliss to become as big as it is now. And as it’s moved up, you see a lot of kind, caring sergeants, colonels, commanders that really care about their people. [00:18:33][38.1]
[00:18:34] And I got to tell you, it makes me feel really cool for an individual out there because I’ve got a kid who is your age. Right. So, you know, you guys got, you know, your guys taking care of him. So it’s a great thing. [00:18:43][9.8]
[00:18:44] Let me ask you, in terms of focusing on the dynamics of, let’s say over the shoulder, you had mentioned that shoulder thing going into that particular area is now for my vantage point, I’m a real lover of the shoulder girdle and the way the word and how it works together when you put something on the shoulder back in the day, there was one thing that really destroyed everyone’s shoulder. People didn’t realize this was this military. It was like a football jacket that had weights on it and they’d load it up in the front in the back, and you could put on, you know, some weights on it. These people had shoulder problems because of the pressure of the on the chromium, on the clavicle. And this happened. How is it that you kind of prevent a shoulder injury in terms of what you’ve seen when they wear things that are compressing them like a rucksack? [00:19:32][48.3]
[00:19:33] So part of that is the way they wear their rucksack. Our PTs do a really good job of demonstrating to them the proper technique of how to wear a rucksack, how to tie it down the right way so that it’s not putting a lot of pressure on their shoulders. That’s not something that necessarily I do, but that’s one way of combating it. As far as my role in it, I’m really just trying to strengthen the whole shoulder girdle and that whole area of the upper back, upper traps, whatever it might be done to try to take some load off so that they have a little bit of a shelf or something to sit it on. So we do a lot of like I said, we’re dealt work. We do a lot of rotator cuff work and a lot of trap work as well, so that they do get a little bit of that shelf. [00:20:15][41.7]
[00:20:15] All right. Well, that gives me a good understanding. I want to know the difference between an NCAA Division One athlete and the military athlete. How do you go about training and start like what are the similarities? And we’re going to try to look at the differences to contrast that specifically in that science. Go ahead and tell me a little bit about what you do for with your philosophies. [00:20:37][21.8]
[00:20:38] So similarities wise I would say the main things is their want to. A lot of times the military guys, the ones that are a little more high speed, they really want to get after it on PT. Right. So they’re one harder sessions. They want to sweat. They want to feel like they got something done. The NCAA guys are the same way. You know, they don’t want to come in and do one exercise and be done. They want to lift heavy. They want to get big. They want to get strong. And it’s the same way here. The only issue is here the training age is so much lower as compared to an NCAA Division One athlete. So when I would get a guy at college, you know, 18 years old. But he came straight out of high school. That was a 6A, 7A, 5A high school, you know, some bigger school played football for four years. He’s been working out since he was in eighth grade. These guys come here and, you know, I’ve got a lot of people that are 30 years old that didn’t play sports in high school, that have been in the military since they were 18. And they’ve been training wrong for 12 years since they got in the military. So their true training age is really nothing. [00:21:43][64.8]
[00:21:44] You know, they don’t really have good movement pattern. They don’t have an idea of really how to lift. They don’t have an idea of, you know, the right way to warm up, the right way to cool down anything like that. So it’s a lot more teaching here as compared to I could really get up and running at a Division One school like I was in about three or four weeks. I was up and running, had guys going full speed almost. So and here it’s a lot of teaching. [00:22:08][23.6]
[00:22:08] Jeremy, do you work with the reserves also? I do not. So we’re just with the active duty. Active duty. [00:22:14][5.6]
[00:22:15] So you mentioned 30 years old. OK. How does that work? And what’s your approach for a 30-year-old versus an 18-year-old? That’s got to do the same procedure. [00:22:22][7.6]
[00:22:23] The 18-year-olds are a little bit easier to teach. Their movement patterns are a little bit easier to pick up on because they haven’t been doing it wrong for so many years. Right. So if an 18-year-old and this is true across any population, whether it’s military or whatever, these guys, it kind of sticks a little faster. Right. So you teach them something two or three times they might have it, whereas this 30, 35-year-old guy that’s been doing this movement, but he’s been doing it wrong for 12 years. You know, when you try to teach him the correct way to do it, it might take eight, 10, 12, 15 sessions for him to finally get it down. And the issue with that is because of how many people are in the battalion, we might only get one or two sessions with him a week. So it might take four months for him to finally get this movement pattern down. And that slows down a lot of people in the process. [00:23:08][44.9]
[00:23:09] Do you separate them to kind of keep them on a different sack of or direction? [00:23:12][3.3]
[00:23:13] So we try to the issue with that is there. You know, if you’ve got one guy in Bravo Company and one guy, an Alpha company that is in the same boat, they don’t really do PT together. So it’s hard to separate within the same company, those people, because you might get that company once or twice a week. So if I’m really trying to separate the guys that are picking up on the guys that aren’t the groups, you’re going to be one of the really small. Or they’re just going to stop coming because they’re not getting enough out of it. [00:23:38][24.8]
[00:23:38] Taylor, in answering that same question, when you see those young kids that and versus the older or how do you approach the diet changes as well as just the approach of nutrition for them going through the same process in terms of the program? [00:23:55][16.3]
[00:23:56] Yes. Just what Jeremy said, you know, the 18-year-old scenario, they typically you know, they want to get better. They want to do what it takes to make it to the next level, which would be professional. And so I feel like they strive to want to get better. They’re a little bit more intuitive to that and receptive. And the, you know, 30-year-old, it’s not that they aren’t receptive. But, you know, a lot of them will have a family, whether that’s a spouse and children. And, you know, you have to take, you know, other factors that may be out of their control to have this success. So really, just in both scenarios, education component, there is so much room to grow, you know, unless someone maybe you went through like Ranger school a little bit more elite on the tactical side, you know, they might be a little bit more attuned to the nutrition and already know what to do around training and recovery. So they might not need as much education and guidance. But definitely there’s a lot of room to grow and both collegiate and military setting for nutrition. [00:25:09][73.5]
[00:25:10] All right. We’re gonna throw it to another gear here. Now, we’re dealing with in my thought process, as you take these young men to the next level, you’re going to deal with some elite guys. And that’s where a lot of my, you know, kids here, the Division one athletes, they correlate. And I got to tell you, from what I’ve seen, because I treat quite a few of the strange cats that go off to the journeys and they go into their, you know, the jungles, these are different kinds of characters. They have different mindsets. And there are at the highest level. Some of these guys are literally in their early, late 30s. And they’re just like that, you can see. In their eyes, they’re just ready to go climb trees, get in the jungle. [00:25:47][36.6]
[00:25:48] These individuals, these elite, these tactical guys, these ones that are that have percolated up to the highest level. How do you work with those individuals and what do you do in terms of trying to maintain them at their sharpest level? [00:26:01][13.5]
[00:26:03] So those guys are a little bit more obviously, like you said, they’re high speed. So they are more like working with a Division One athlete. Honestly, there’s been strength conditioning coaches in the special ops side of things for years and years. There are a lot more in tune with that side of things, with knowing the proper technique. Knowing how things are really supposed to work and knowing how they’re supposed to feel. So, you know, if they have a problem, they’re a lot more likely to either know if it’s actually pain or an actual injury. They can actually handle the two of them whereas guys that are not used to working out to them, you know, having pain and being sore the day after a workout, they’re hurt. You know, these guys are a little more in tune with their body and they’re a lot more likely to be able to push themselves through your workouts so you can go a lot heavier with them. You can do more of a, you know, true tier-based or strength-based or whatever it might be program that you want to do to get them better and better. [00:27:05][61.7]
[00:27:05] You know, when I was going to college, there were these programs that came out, strength training programs, where you could actually calculate how strong an individual was if they followed this tier, you know, go through these many deadlifts, do it this way, do it these reps. And over time, you were gonna go, you know, in a linear progression upwards. It was amazing that you could actually do it that way. Do you feel that if you push these athletes, you watch them improve, especially the top tier one that you can actually push them to, you know, an amazing level of accomplishment with tough training? [00:27:41][36.0]
[00:27:42] …�[00:32:55][48.8]
[00:32:56] Jeremy, how do you look at that stuff? And do you are you privy to that information and do you apply it to the flight that you’re doing? [00:33:02][6.0]
[00:33:02] So I don’t really get the actual numbers. Taylor is the one that gets those numbers and she would just share with me, hey, you know, this guy might need a little extra help. You know, as far as losing some weight goes, this guy is in the standards. He wants to gain a little bit of weight and he can, you know, that kind of thing, whatever it might be. So I don’t get the actual numbers, but I do get some information from her that I can help the guys with. [00:33:23][20.1]
[00:33:23] You know, one of the things that we realize in health care is the unification of data as well as integration of other sciences. You two guys met at a… Obviously, I’d like to know a little bit about how you guys introduce yourselves and how did you guys interact and how did you. Because, Taylor, you kind of talk to me about Jeremy. And I got to tell you, Jeremy seems to be an amazing guy. That’s got a lot of knowledge. And we and I really appreciate that. But how did you guys get to interact together? How did that process go in terms of for the purpose of the military? [00:33:56][33.1]
[00:33:58] Yes, so, yes, Jeremy is an excellent strength coach and it’s been a pleasure working with him. We actually work for two different contract companies, so we just were put together by chance, to be honest. And I mean, we just really clicked since day one, our personalities match really well. So that’s really where it began. And Jeremy has been here for almost two years and I’ve been here for almost a year. So he’s been here a lot longer than me. But so we met when I started. [00:34:28][29.3]
[00:34:28] Gotcha. In terms of your overall goals for the military and the dynamics for the athletes, let’s go back into the world of a little bit of the athletic division one. And now let’s also consider the fact that the sciences you have can also be applied to even the general public and even to kids at that level. And I know a lot of my patients have parents out there that want their kids to benefit from the best ideas and philosophies. And one of the things is that you realize that it’s not so much about knowledge. It’s about philosophy. It’s about your point of view. It’s the way you stand in what you think about how can we take what the military does in its sciences and its progression sciences to get these athletes and these individuals ready for battle. To our kids, how can we apply that if you can kind of reach into I don’t know if you’ve got kids, but if you do deal with kids, how would you apply those sciences to even the young, young high school, younger people population? [00:35:32][63.3]
[00:35:33] So I actually one of my papers or whatever for my masters was about strength training in kids because it was something that really, really interested me, because all my life I heard kids shouldn’t lift weights. Kids shouldn’t do this. It stunts their growth. It does. You know, it’s bad for them, whatever. [00:35:49][15.8]
[00:35:50] And honestly, everything that you read research-wise says otherwise. That’s just been a myth that’s been out there for so long that people started to believe it. So for me, as far as translating my side over to the general population. Younger kids all the way up to high school, it honestly starts with GPP, which is just general physical preparedness. So being able to handle their body weight, being able to learn movement patterns. So obviously push-ups, pull-ups, things like that for body weight, but then movement patterned on the squat, the landing mechanics like we talked about, things like that, and then just the general agility and movement stuff. So playing tag, doing things that are actually active outdoors. [00:36:29][38.9]
[00:37:12] So, you know, have him, you know, just practice squatting and making sure the knees are pointing out over the toes. He’s not getting valgus knee is not caving and he’s not you know, when he’s walking his gait pattern is good. When he’s running his gait pattern is good when he’s planting his foot. You know, stop and go playing tag with his friends. He’s, you know, actually planting sinking into that hip and driving off. You know, there’s little tiny things that you can look at that can help with those movement patterns as they get older and hopefully combat the chances of injuries as they get older. And then once as they get older and those movement patterns are more ingrained, then you can start adding some weight to stuff you can start doing. You know, even just goblet squats is where I would start. So a kettlebell or dumbbell holding a single thing. So you’re not actually loading the spine things like that and floor press and med ball throws and different things like that where you’re adding weight once those get learned more ingrained than you just are getting into the bigger lift. You know, you get to the big three, the squat bench deadlift, the Olympic lifting type stuff, whatever it is, Taylor, he is good. [00:38:12][59.6]
[00:38:13] ... [00:42:17][48.6]
[00:42:18] Taylor, you know you’re talking, right? I mean, this is amazing stuff in terms of its dynamics and specifically for recovery. How do you guys play into kids or young men that are injured in the nutrition component? How do you help them? How do you support the dynamics of the nutrition component? I know we talked about a little bit, but can you go back into it and talk about the things that you look at at the micronutrient level, as well as the macronutrient level to get these guys to be able to sustain the loads that they’re going to be under and provide them their best option? [00:42:53][34.6]
[00:42:54] Yes. So it goes back to recovery, nutrition, and the nutrient timing and making sure I mean, you’re breaking down your muscles when you’re working out and you’re trying to build them back up, grow. And so, you know, what’s going to do that is protein and carbohydrates. So making sure you have a three to one ratio of carbohydrates to protein. You know, that’s going to help them replenish their stores, their energy stores and also build muscle. And then from an injury standpoint, it’s just again, you know, making sure that depending on the injury will depend on the prescription for nutrition. But overall, you want to make sure that they have enough energy needs first and foremost, and they’re going to be less active typically. So, you know, you might not need as high of calorie needs that they would when they would be training. And the same with carbohydrates. It is your primary energy source, but you’re not going to be training as hard. So typically that is going to be lower. Now, your protein needs are going to be almost twice as high as they normally would be to really make sure that you’re, you know, getting the growth and nutrients you need for the protein and for the muscles to just recover from the injury, and then fat also plays a huge role as well. So and then micronutrients, you’re going to look at your B vitamins, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A. You know, magnesium, those are all going to help in the wound healing injury recovery aspect as well. And then also immune support, which is really important. [00:44:36][101.9]
[00:44:37] Jeremy, thank you. Jeremy, they’re leaving now the day, they’re all exhausted. They’re all whooped on. Right. What are the words of advice that you give them about what they’re gonna eat tonight? You know, and let’s say you got an individual that’s just they just look bad. And what do you tell them? How do you tell them to rehab? Recover? I guess is a good word. [00:44:55][18.4]
[00:44:56] So for me, I’d try to preach high carb, high protein once after. So obviously, like she said, protein plays a big part in the recovery side of things. And they just depleted a lot of their carb sources during the workout. So that’s really what I try to preach, our sessions are in the morning. So a lot of times they’ve barely eaten anything as we’ve mentioned before. And if they have, it’s a lot of times not enough. So I try to preach. Get some carb sources, get some protein, get some eggs, get an omelet. They make you omelets in there. I know they do because I’ve been in there, eat one, you know, get something that can actually help you recover from this workout. [00:45:35][38.3]
[00:45:35] You mentioned, you know, they would sometimes show up without eating properly. You know, that’s a problem with a lot of the athletes. So they’re, you know, especially younger ones. They want to look good for some of the ones so they can volleyball. But some wrestlers, they got to, you know, have the basics, too. And for different types of athletes, different things for the population that you’re dealing with in order to get them better. What is the baseline good level of carbohydrates and what type of drinks or what kind of foods do you offer or recommend them at least get in that much so that they don’t end up totally running and being depleted by the end of the program. [00:46:12][36.3]
[00:46:13] So they’ll need 30 to 60 grams of carbohydrate, 30 minutes to an hour right before working now. And like Jeremy said, a lot of times, the workout is at six-thirty in the morning. So you’re not going to have the ideal scenario where people are eating three hours meal before they, you know, train. So. [00:46:30][17.7]
[00:46:31] So when you just wait. I’m sorry. When you said that 30 to 60 grams. So. So thirty-one twenty to 240 calories. Just a start up the engine. Right. Is that right? Is that a good fare. [00:46:40][9.0]
[00:46:41] Yeah. So that is fair. So what that looks like is 30 grams could be a banana or it could be a couple of slices of toast. You typically want something that is going to digest very well. So that’s going to be low in protein, low in fat and low in fiber. So that is going to be a carbohydrate source. You’re going to want to isolate that carbohydrate to avoid any digestion issues. So, you know, for people that can’t handle solid foods as well, I always recommend liquids. It’s already converted. So something as simple as a 20 ounce Gatorade. You know, if they can take something a little in between solid and liquid applesauce pouch, you know, there are so many varieties at the grocery store now for kids or adults. And, you know, just taking one of those apple sauces will also help meet that need. [00:47:33][51.8]
[00:47:33] You know, as you start your training program in the morning, what kind of things do you do? How do you ramp up the training program? Jeremy, I’d like to know a little bit about that, like take me through a day in your world. [00:47:45][11.7]
[00:47:46] So with ramping it up goes. As I said, we might get guys once or twice a week. So it’s a very, very slow process. It’s also dependent upon their battle rhythm. So, you know, we might get guys say twice a week. So we do have to get a group twice a week, which is what we were that whole battalion. We get every company twice a week. We might get them for six weeks and then they’re gone for three weeks doing a field training exercise and they completely detrain. Right. They’re doing nothing but sitting there for a lot of the time and, you know, practice in military type stuff, they’re not getting any physical training in. It’s not mandatory out there. It’s not necessary. And nobody does it and they can’t really shower. So nobody really wants to get sweaty and stuff. Right. So those three weeks when they come back, we kind of have to reset. There’s not really that much of a ramp-up. It’s a lot of general physical preparedness stuff. We do a lot of bodyweight stuff. And then a lot of the big three, we try to progress those as much as we can. So like right now, because we just kind of restarted with this battalion, with the whole COVID thing going on. We’re doing a lot of goblet squats. We’re doing trap bar. Deadlifts are extremely important. That’s going to be in their new PT test. [00:48:58][71.9]
[00:48:59] What was that? Trap bar deadlift. A different name for it, but we do that. And then right now, we’re doing floor press and we’re planning to progress the goblet squad into a front squat, front squat to back squat. Right. So that’ll be the progression there. The floor press will progress into the bench press. [00:49:16][17.6]
[00:49:17] Are those the three that you’re talking about? The three? [00:49:18][1.3]
[00:49:19] Yeah. So those are kind of the big three is your deadlift, your squat, and your bench. And so that’s your main three strength lift, right. That’s what everybody wants to be good at. So that’s the three that we kind of focus on. But we’ll set up circuits around that. So if we’re doing so, you have floor press, right? We’ll try to do some kind of a pull with that, whether it’s rear delt or an actual row. So it might be a kettlebell row, dumbbell row. Some like that. And then we’ll do a lower body exercise with that. So we try to go full body every workout session. So we’re getting upper, lower-end core. We try to do the main lift is for strength. So if it’s floor press, squats, or deadlifts, it’s more of your strength-based stuff. So it’s more that max effort. So it might be sets of four sets of five. Some like that with a heavier weight. We try to work up to a heavy load. Then everything else is more hypertrophy based. So it’s more work capacity. We’re trying to do, you know, a little bit of a lighter weight, but it’s still going to be heavy not to where it makes them work for those eight to 12 to 15 reps, whatever we might do. [00:50:21][61.6]
[00:50:21] Do you mix it? Like, do you have some hypertrophy versus agility and versus body mechanics stuff or do you have like certain days. Today’s Body Mechanic Day today is power today. This today is Hypertrophy Day. [00:50:30][9.3]
[00:50:31] So right now, because we don’t really know what group we’re going to get every day with stuff going on so they’re, kind of work in shifts. They’re not there every day. So we might have one group one day. It might be the same exact people, you know, for a full week. It might be. They come every other day. So the plan right now basically is we go up there, we set up three lifts. Monday was a Friday or lift days, Tuesday a more run day, though. And like I said, the running is more anaerobic stuff. So sprint stuff. But on those sprint days, we do more. We do lift more. But it’s more bodyweight work capacity stuff. So we’ll do a lot of push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, squats, lunges. But it’s all bodyweight type stuff and that’ll be all in a circuit with some running involved. And then on the lift days, it’s, you know, like I said, that one lift strength. Everything else is more hypertrophy/work capacity. So it’s all high reps and. [00:51:24][53.2]
[00:51:26] It’s kind of tough to get a lot of hypertrophy type stuff in because of the box that we’re working out of. So we have a gym that’s inside a box. You had to pull all the weight out. There’s not really enough weight to load up a lot of stuff if we want to do a lot of squats. We need weights for that. Right. So we need weights. But on the barbell, well, there’s only eight forty-fives. Eight thirty-five, eight twenty-five, and eight tenths. So if I have four stations of squats like that up, I’d need almost all of that weight to be able to handle that. So I can’t use that weight on anything else, whether it’s the sleds, the trap bars, whatever it might be. So I have to come up with stuff with bands and kettlebells is really I see an invention there. [00:52:02][36.8]
[00:52:03] I think there’s an invention in there and what I’m hearing is, is that your gym doesn’t go out to the outside that easy. So is that what I’m getting? Like you want to be able to have a piece of equipment, has all your stuff on it, so you just drag it off that thing. [00:52:14][11.5]
[00:52:14] … [00:56:58][62.0]
[00:56:59] I really believe that what he just said was a huge component? Now he has spent his whole life understanding body dynamics. And he ended up understanding and now the military gets it in a different level. The translation of force comes from the core. It is huge. When you hear med ball slams, that is a body that’s going to its fullest out and slamming at a full range of motion. When you’re seeing hip flexes, you’re pulling that hip to the furthest, deepest dungeon of movement, to the furthest extreme on the outside. So to be able to do that, to be able to translate, weight and slowed and sled movements, you’re gonna need a powerful core. The dynamics of it are the ability to move it through time and space at a certain rate of speed. How long you do it, you can do it a little bit, that’s strength. But power means you can translate it over twenty-five feet or so and hit back and forth. So we’re really pushing the body to a level that is amazing. I have sat down with certain patients of mine and they find that that theory. And I found it to be very interesting that deep tuck, the knee tuck, and the deep flexion movements. Where did that philosophy come from and you have as a physiologist and the nutrition strength coach? How did that come in? Where did that come from that they realized that those particular movements, the slam ball, as well as the deep tuck, became a crucial component in the military action? [00:58:26][86.2]
[00:58:27] So I know the people are well, Major Matthews’, that actually used to run H two F, she’s transferred over to a different side of the military now, but she used to work at the Olympic training facility in Colorado. And I know she helped develop the test. So I would guess I don’t know for sure, but I would guess she played a big role in that. Yeah, because she, you know, does know a lot more about that side of things. I know she helped create, you know, with the power throw and stuff. [00:58:57][29.5]
[00:58:57] What’s her name, shout out again? Major Matthews. Major Matthews. OK. [00:58:59][2.7]
[00:59:00] So you know we met her, she came down I think it was a little bit before Taylor got here so she came down to talk to us and explained about the test and why they were doing it and whatever. And she played a big part in developing a test because of her background. [00:59:18][18.4]
[00:59:19] Have you guys gone to Colorado Springs before to take a look at the Olympic Center? I have not. I have not either. You know what? I got to go there. But there, you know, I got to watch from the outside inward. And you got to I got to tell you that you can see top athletes from around the world. I mean, from powerlifters. But you can see that they’re not very big in the sense of muscular build. But you can see that every athlete had a trainer with them and usually it’s a physical therapist that was right with them. And they were talking mechanics and movements. And these athletes and all the sports that they have, you see this amazing. It’s almost like watching something out of an amazing superpower show where you see these athletes running from all different directions…
And these are the top athletes in the world training centers from swimmers to high bolt whatever the sport is, I can imagine, but you can see them training in the center and they really focus on the range of motion. And you can see the physical therapist showing the motion. And actually the intensity of the movement is really, really important. So that science of Deep Tuck and translation of force is huge now. And it’s amazing that now to be able to do that is at the forefront of the military’s progression. Let me ask you this. Now that you know and you’re in your science and understanding is about the youth. How do you correlate that and take me into the progression of how to get kids, let’s say, a high school kid into doing that particular component of translation of forces so that we can make them great at being a lineman or just torquing the heck out of someone in wrestling. You know, kind of that deal. [00:00:54][54.1]
…
You know, I’ve got to tell you, you know, I could sit here and talk for over an hour. This is it. We’ve been over at least 60 minutes here. People are gonna look at me and YouTube is going to shut me out. But I’ve got to tell you, this has been literally an exciting moment because, between the both of you, I feel like I’m in a show of Jumanji of knowledge. You know, it’s like I just opened up a Pandora and you guys are full of knowledge. That is great. Again, I got to tell you, El Paso has these individuals. And if you, again, I don’t yield, the information will be on there for them if you want to communicate with them. I’ve got to tell you, we have them. We have such great talents, such smart individuals out there. Birds of a feather flock together. So for both of you, I can see how you guys migrated into appreciating the levels of vast knowledge and in the direction that you have for both of you. I honestly see you guys being Ph.D.s and whatever you guys do. So it’s only one step away from being Ph.D.s I will say that strength coaches are different kinds of characters, huh? They’re just different, man. They just there’s no joke. There’s serious. This is life-threatening. And when you’re under that bar, they want to take care of you. So they’re the most compassionate people. And they’re the most serious of all people. And as you said in the gym, basically everyone seeks out, both of you guys, for the greater order. That is what you guys do. You guys have great knowledge. And I’ve been a big proponent of great order rules. So you guys have been pulled in through whatever the sources are to bring you to create great order for these young kids and young men so that they can perform the best that they can in the world that they have to go into. So I got to tell you. Thank you, guys. Thank you. I know that this information was something that correlates to children. I could open up each one of those conversations and open it up for another hour each. So, Taylor, I got to tell you. Thank you so much for bringing us some knowledge. And I look forward to talking to you guys some more in the future and bringing you in and breaking it up into a different. Because we talked about the leg. We talked about the knees. We talked about nutrition. Each one of these are directions that we can spend hours talking about. And it’s out there. And just to let you know, my goal is to bring it out so that the parents can also see what’s important. I think all we got here is good nutrition, good body mechanics, range of motion, dynamic transfer of power, and also the progression from even young that, you know, you can’t be accused of abusing your children when you put them under a weight machine. If you have the understanding is the proper mechanics and the right age and the right dynamics of it. So nutrition plays a huge role. I always knew that the core held the secret. Now, I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but when God put the baby, he put it where? He put it in the core. OK. So when you look at it, the Orientals called it the Chi, the center of the power right in kung fu. Watch the hips. Watch the hips where you can see where the guy’s going because of the center of the order rules in sports in translating. And when your life depends on it, your core, it has to be one of the most important components as to where you translate force and reaction time comes from there. As a matter of fact, it’s the basis of what the body dynamics are. The pelvis, the hips, the range of motion, and the knees. Those are the sciences that these young individuals have brought in the nutrition of it. Because when it comes down to circulation, you know, what’s in the circulation, the food, the stuff that you put in that hole in your face and the rest and the sleep and the water and hydration. What I’m very pleased about is that I’m a lot older and I appreciate the level of youth and youngness in them, so to speak, that is going to be changing the world for the future individuals and families around El Paso and in the regions that this kind of can reach. So thank you, guys. I appreciate your information. And I’m a fan of both of you guys, by the way, OK, because you guys are an amazing talent that I got to tell you, I do have a window. Before you were here in the 1990s where there was a different world, El Paso is different. And Sylvester Reyes, by the way, that’s the senator that I wanted to call out, it was his dream to make that military force out here and make it as big as it was. It’s got a long history. But in that impact of those big centers, those training centers was this dream. So I got to tell you for that, Senator, I don’t know if he anticipated you guys come in, but he did create the great order so that you guys would come and share your knowledge. So I wish you the best and thank you guys for everything you guys have offered. And I look forward to hearing from you best. And thank you, Kenna. Thank you for everything.
PODCAST: Dr. Alex Jimenez, a chiropractor in El Paso, and Kenna Vaughn, a health coach in El Paso, TX, introduce Taylor Lyle, a sports dietitian in El Paso, TX, to discuss the importance of nutrition and diet for young athletes and professional athletes. Taylor Lyle discusses her experience in sports nutrition as she describes how it is that she chose to become a sports dietitian. With her tremendous knowledge in nutrition and diet, Taylor Lyle now has a new goal of helping athletes in El Paso, Texas improve their overall health and wellness as well as enhance their performance. Taylor Lyle is also willing to help anyone who wants to achieve overall health and wellness. Dr. Alex Jimenez, Kenna Vaughn, and Taylor Lyle conclude the podcast by discussing their future plans towards helping athletes understand the importance of nutrition and diet. – Podcast Insight
[00:00:00] OK. So today we’re going to be presenting an amazing young lady who has hit the El Paso Times. Taylor Lyle. She comes from a lot of different places. And we’re gonna be discovering exactly how she has contributed to our El Paso community. And she’s an amazing addition because El Paso is a town that needs a lot of different talents. And a lot of us sometimes don’t know what the talent is. [00:00:38][26.5]
[00:00:39] And as you can see, I’m way over here on the picture. We’re running in our COVID era. COVID era. Yeah, no, let’s go ahead and show them the whole studio a little bit. And during this COVID era, we function with distancing and we have complexities. But today, we’ve tested everybody out here that we are unfazed at this time. So we’re going to be making sure that we talk about issues that are pertaining to wellness and fitness. And Taylor Lyle comes with a lot of great experience. Taylor, hi. How are you? And we’re gonna introduce her. Taylor, tell us about yourself. Because we’re excited to see you. We got to meet you in the process of looking up at the highly talented individuals in El Paso. And you are one of the ones that came in as one of the health coaches, fitness trainers. Tell us about who is Taylor Lyle? Tell us about what’s the beginning? What started your story? [00:01:34][55.0]
[00:01:35] Yeah, well thanks. I started as an athlete growing up. I played competitive soccer, basketball, and volleyball. And through my own experience, I, you know, found out how nutrition impacted my performance and my overall health. So, you know, as an athlete on the go here looking for quick choices. So a lot of times it ends up being fast-food restaurants. And with that, you know, it really just didn’t sit well with me before competition or after. So I had packed my own things in advance. Saw how that really impacted not just my energy, but performance and just, you know, my physique as well. So that’s really where I got started in sports nutrition. And then I continued on. I went to the University of Oklahoma and I got my bachelor’s degrees in nutritional sciences. When I was there, I got to volunteer as a sports nutrition student. And so with that, it just reaffirmed, you know, my decision to take this career path. So I have over seven years of experience in sports nutrition and a variety of sports. And I’m a certified specialist in sports dietetics. And so with that, I have a variety of backgrounds with collegiate high school and professional athletes as well as in the military setting. [00:02:55][80.7]
[00:02:56] So that’s an amazing story. One of the things that we see here is that when we look at this resume that you have here, what we’re seeing is that you’re highly, highly, highly brought in by a lot of different talented individuals. They kind of saw you from a distance. How did El Paso end up finding you, tell us a story about that? [00:03:15][19.1]
[00:03:16] Well, I got sought out by a recruiter to work with the Army. And so with that, it just it really was the timing was right. I was ready to relocate back to Texas. That’s where I’m from. I was in West Virginia at the time, helped create their football program. [00:03:34][17.3]
[00:03:34] Football? Can you help UTEP? Can you help the UTEP miners? [00:03:41][6.8]
[00:03:42] You know if they wanted me to I’d be more than happy to assist them with their nutritional needs. But yeah, I have a strong background. I have experience with that. Oklahoma, Clemson, Oregon football as well. [00:03:53][11.8]
[00:03:54] No way. [00:03:58][4.1]
[00:03:58] They’re the Tigers. Okay. [00:04:05]
[00:04:09] And then I had the opportunity to spend two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and then obviously West Virginia after that. [00:04:15][6.4]
[00:04:16] Yeah. You spent some time with the Dallas Cowboys. Tell us about that a little bit. Yeah, it was really great. [00:04:19][3.8]
[00:04:21] You know, professional athletes, they’re a little bit more in tune with their body. You know, they’re just competing at a very high level. And so it was really great. I loved everyone that I worked with and I just really learned a lot. I got to do a lot more testing. We looked at, you know, muscle glycogen. We got to do all sorts of body composition tests. [00:04:42][21.4]
[00:04:42] These guys have the endless funds. Yeah, they really do. [00:04:45][2.6]
[00:04:45] And just, you know, the nutritional you know, whether it was supplements or just different foods we could use, we really just, we’re really fortunate with the resources we had. [00:04:57][11.3]
[00:04:57] So we’re gonna be talking about mindset and all that kind of good stuff. So don’t let me forget, Kenna, about mindset. Well, one of the things that we’re looking at here that we want to discuss is how that talent can translate to the people here in El Paso. There’s a lot of fitness, a lot of mental positioning, and a lot of dieticians. Were you able to work with different types of providers with Dallas? [00:05:18][21.5]
[00:05:19] Yeah, and honestly, really, in a lot of my experiences, I mean, you work with drinking, conditioning, coaches, athletic trainers, doctors, sports medicine, sports psychologists, play a huge role. Also, family. Sports psychologists. [00:05:32][12.8]
[00:05:33] OK. [00:05:33][0.0]
[00:05:34] Yeah. So they were, you know, implemental pads for the athletes. And then you have all sorts of support, whether that, you know, in college is academics, life after sports. And, you know, just different things, how to survive out in the community. And then, you know, professional, they have to also participate in community service. And so they just really have a lot of basically everything. [00:05:59][25.4]
[00:06:00] The athletes have to participate in community service? Okay, great. Did you work with any of the doctors out there? Because from my point of view, when I look at an athlete and when I look at our athletes here, because we have a lot of great athletes in El Paso, I mean, a talent that just comes and goes. One of the things that happen is no one really pays attention to the nutrition people until they’re hurt. And that’s true. That’s what happens when oh, now that you know, because now I’m making ten million dollars a year. Right. As a football player and my ACL just snapped. Right. So I know that part of it’s going to be the surgeon. OK. And part of it’s going to be the rehab. But the most important thing there is the dietitian. OK. So as the person that works with the dietary changes, tell me a little bit about how you were able to assist. You know, athletes return back to to get their dreams back. [00:06:48][48.7]
[00:06:49] Right. So there’s a lot of different modalities. I mean, obviously, it depends on the injury. But, you know, most importantly, you want to make sure that they’re consuming enough calories. And then from there, you know, they’re getting adequate macronutrients. So you look at, you know, carbohydrates, depending on the…it’s generally lower. Right, because you have decreased physical activity level. Right. They’re not as mobile. And then, you know, protein. You need that for tissue and repair and sorry. And so with that, it’s, you know, you need adequate protein. Higher, higher needs generally. And then, in fact, you need that for reducing inflammation just for your body to function properly, your organs, tissues. So with that, you know, you want to make sure they have good fats high in monounsaturated and omega-3 fatty acids. So those are going to be things like fatty fish, like salmon and tuna. [00:07:45][56.4]
[00:07:46] You know, different oils, olive to canola oil, peanut oil, nuts and seeds, avocado. [00:07:54][7.8]
[00:07:55] So, you know, just your good, healthy fats. Those are all going to accelerate injury. And so also too you look at different micronutrients. So, you know, with when you have a stress fracture or bone injury, you’re going to be looking for your calcium and vitamin D. Those are important for bone health and formation. And as well as the immune system. So and then you’re also going to look at, you know, you hear a lot about vitamin C with immune function. But it’s actually important for tissue repair, wound healing, and collagen production. So actually, collagen is also a form of gelatin. So it’s a major protein found in, you know, your connective tissues. Yes. Thank you. This is how you know, that includes things like your bones, ligaments, tendons, skin. And so. So as you increase that production and make your tendons and ligaments stronger. So that is something that you can use even in injury prevention. [00:08:57][62.3]
[00:08:58] We’re going to talk about that a little bit right now. Kenna tell me a little bit about what you were, we’ve been focusing a lot about inflammation, huh? Tell us about what is it, what, our main topic here is inflammation. It seems to be part of everything, whether it’s working out or anything. Kenna, what have we been doing with that? What is one of the most important things with inflammation that you have learned? [00:09:18][19.8]
[00:09:19] We learned that it all stems from the gut. And which brings us back to why Taylor is such a great guest to have today and talking about, you know, dietary needs and everything that you need. And she is talking about supplements, which are great. And it’s not just supplements we need, though. We sometimes, our body does better when we get that food, the nutrients from the real foods, like she was mentioning the avocados and the salmon because you can break it down differently. But all in all, the end goal is always to reduce inflammation, you know, heal the gut. We don’t want anything in there to get through the permeability. We want our gut to be solid so that our nutrition can be solid so that our muscles can be solid and just everything is all connected and everything leads down to like we just said. So Taylor, we now know that you’re surrounded by people that love inflammation. [00:10:09][50.7]
[00:10:11] So let’s assume you got an athlete out there and this dude needs to run. He’s 440. You know, he’s got to be a big lineman. He’s got to run at 440. He’s gotta be a fast guy or a tight end or something. And they’re just having joint pain. And they constantly have issues besides the external things like ice and the anti-inflammatories and all the kind of things that you do. How do we change their diet? What kind of things that I know you mentioned some foods there I want you to go a little deeper into that so we can help people. [00:10:38][27.1]
[00:10:39] Yes. It’s just kind of like injury. It’s similar. You look at the macronutrients I mentioned protein, fat and carbs. And then just overall energy. But for joint pain, you know, there’s fish oil that also stems from healthy fats. [00:10:53][14.7]
[00:10:54] Are you talking more like the omega oils? [00:10:56][2.5]
[00:10:57] Yes. OK. So the omega-3, which includes DHEA and EPA. And so with that…is there any ratios that you guys like a little bit better? [00:11:06][8.9]
[00:11:06] Or is it something that’s different. [00:11:07][1.0]
[00:11:10] Two to one. Three to one. What do you like? Generally it’s. [00:11:14][4.0]
[00:11:17] I want to say two to one, that’s it, so that’s one I’ve heard that two to one is the one we’ve seen the most like. Yeah. Five hundred milligrams to 1000 back and forth. [00:11:25][7.7]
[00:11:25] Yeah. That’s generally where the most research is in. [00:11:27][1.8]
[00:11:28] Yes. Yes. And so that can help with joint pain. [00:11:30][2.4]
[00:11:31] Reduce inflammation. Enhances brain function. And then you might have heard things like turmeric. Yes. So those actually are some spices that can help with inflammation. [00:11:46][15.1]
[00:11:47] Do you give that too? Would you offer that to the athletes? [00:11:49][2.0]
[00:11:49] I would say try adding that in your food first with the spices. There are definitely supplements available for that as well. We know with supplements. It’s just kind of tricky. You want to make sure that it’s safe to use and consume. And so with that, you know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, they really don’t regulate those until, you know, something big goes on. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. So with that, you just give guidance generally as a sports dietician, recommend third-party certification. So that’s going to be things, logo’s that you would see on supplements to have a certified for sport. Informed choice for sport. Banned substance control group. So those are going to be more of your, you know, elite certification, particularly with inflammation. [00:12:41][51.5]
[00:12:42] One of the things that we’ve seen is that in an inflammatory issue such as a joint issue, one of these I’ve noticed is that omegas, curcumin, vitamin D, you know, all the way down to vitamin A, C, and E, the anti-inflammatories, the antioxidants. Right. Those are really, really cool, particularly when it comes to omegas, sometimes you don’t know which place to stop. You know, sometimes you can tell, like for a vitamin C, as high as you dose up, you can usually tell when you’ve just crossed over the line because it does kind of end up giving you a little bit of diarrhea. So you’ve gone too far. So it could be 1000 for some people. Sometimes you can dose up to three in certain individuals, but you want that at a high level so that it helps with the proteins, the omegas. If you go too far on those, sometimes you’ll be laughing and you’ll be bleeding on the nose. Right. [00:13:29][47.0]
[00:13:29] So you’ve gone too far because. Yeah. Yeah. [00:13:34][4.7]
[00:13:34] So when we do that, we try to figure out ways to limit our ability overpass. And that’s where someone like yourself would be very important to be able to come up with a diet. I’m a big believer. [00:13:44][10.2]
[00:13:45] I’ve always believed that fitness is probably about 10 percent. You know, 90 percent of the athlete comes from feeding those genes, which is nutrition. And that’s the whole thing then. And the genetic design and the sports genes. So what I look at is that when you look at some of these athletes, I know I touched on it, but would you work with the orthopedist? Would they come to you and say, hey, you know what, this guy, he’s got to be back in six weeks because that’s the same thing that happens here in El Paso. We got athletes that are national champions. We got the Division one, Division two, Division three. It’s really important to get these kids when they get hurt to nutritionally be backed up with the right foods. So in the event of someone with, let’s say, a shoulder injury or knee injury, how would the orthopedist look for the Dallas Cowboys? Because you did mention that you worked with them. Would they want your help? [00:14:39][54.6]
[00:14:40] Yeah. So, I mean, there are several different disciplines involved, but nutrition does play a huge role. And so that’s conversations you would have with sports medicine, whether that’s the athletic trainer who spoke to the doc, you know, because they have a busy schedule or if it’s the physician talking directly to you. So the pain on the injury would obviously change your nutritional approach. [00:15:03][22.8]
[00:15:06] And one of the things that I remember doing is that each sport has different types of nutrition. Right. So a lot of people don’t know that. People think that you can feed the volleyball player the same thing or the football player. It’s not the same. No, no one size fits all. No, no. So this end equals one component. I remember that one of the Dallas Cowboys orthopedic surgeons is Daniel Cooper. [00:15:27][21.2]
[00:15:28] Then Cooper at the Carol Clinic is one of the top reconstruction of knees and has been able to work with a lot of people from Oklahoma’s med effect. Many of the Oklahoma wrestlers. Go to Daniel Cooper. And one of the things is he does his job. And I got to tell you, the guy will do a reconstruction of a knee in 20 minutes. And he’s done, he walks on, says, I’m done by now. You get the best knee job. But then that’s when you come in. You come in with a nutritionist and as well as the coaches for the rehab, the therapist. And that’s all about nutrition. Talk to me, wrap yourself around, let’s say, just like someone with a knee injury. And let’s talk about taking them back into recovery from the beginning, from the time that says, you know what? We got the physical therapies. He did his thing, but we want to feed this guy the right way. How do you do that? Go ahead. [00:16:12][44.1]
[00:16:14] Yeah, so look at the overall diet. You know what, assess nutritional needs. Calculate what they would need and then factor in the macronutrients as I said earlier. And you know what? [00:16:27][13.1]
[00:16:27] Macronutrients, how you can tell me a bit about macronutrients. So we can tell El Paso. So we got moms out there right now. Moms are the hardest people to deal with. Right. Because I’ve got to tell you, you know, little Bobby, he’s an athlete. He’s seven years old. He’s 12 years old. He’s 13 years old. He’s gonna be a national champion. Mom’s in the kitchen. Wants to know what to give their kids who are hurt in a similar fashion. What are macronutrients on? And we want to go there. [00:16:51][24.7]
[00:16:52] Yeah. So carbohydrates are your primary energy source that’s a macronutrient as well as protein and fat. And so you really want to focus on protein because you’re trying to regenerate, rebuild that muscle tissue. Right. And you want to grow. So it’s a protein that needs to be a focus as well as fat because that’s going to help reduce inflammation, help the healing of the tissue as well. And so those are the two primary ones that you want to look at. And then carbohydrates, you definitely still need even just for brain function. Right. And so you just don’t need as much when you’re injured because you’re not moving as much. So those are the macronutrients you want to look at. And then when you have that confirmed, you want to start looking into micronutrients. So if it’s just a tissue injury instead of bone, you know, you’re going to want to look at more of like zinc. Right. So you’re gonna need that. Well, that’s a micronutrient that you’re going to need for tissue repair regeneration. It also helps with immune system function. And so vitamin A also is one that helps with tissue repair and regeneration as well. Once you have an injury, it helps reverse the immune system suppression. So those are going to be what you look at as well as vitamin C. So vitamin C plays a role and when telling tissue repair immune system, boosting the immune system. So those are going to be ones that you’ll want to pay closer attention to. [00:18:26][94.4]
[00:18:27] And I’ve heard a lot about collagen and I use it here. But what is the perspective that they do at a collegiate level or at that, let’s say a National Football League level? [00:18:38][10.7]
[00:18:38] Yes. So we actually would make gelatins. So your store-bought gelatin and. Yeah. And we would add that with vitamin C, whether you want to have a cup of orange juice or you actually want to put a supplement on vitamin C powder and the gelatin. And so vitamin C helps enhance collagen production. So you want those two together, gelatin and vitamin C to help with collagen. And so what that does is it’s going to strengthen that tendon and ligament, making it stronger, making it less prone to an injury. [00:19:17][38.5]
[00:19:18] I got to tell you that that’s great knowledge. And I love hearing about this stuff because a lot of these people, we read weekly, we kind of go in there and we read about, you know, gelatin or cartilage or what does that mean? [00:19:31][13.4]
[00:19:32] …� [00:20:32][60.3]
[00:20:33] And that’s where their emotional stage burns the stress level. Yeah. You mentioned something that was very important to me, and I feel that a lot of people don’t know about this is the psychological component of an athlete and the dietary issues. What are the ways that you kind of help your athletes and the people that you work with handle their lives in terms of an injury and/or try to make them better with nutrition and psychology? [00:20:55][22.1]
[00:20:56] Yes. So psychology, I really do refer that out to the experts. But with nutrition, you know, I just helped manage a lot of time. I mean, eating is such a big part of your day today. Hopefully, you’re eating most of the day. Yeah, not all day. So. I mean, you know, just having a good relationship with food and making sure that, you know, people are enjoying food and you know that they don’t have any negative relationship with that, that obviously ties into psychological as well. But, yeah, I do refer them to the expert. But, you know, there’s a lot of things that can influence not just, you know, an injury or whether it’s weight or anything like that body composition. But, you know, you have to look at other factors. So the stress, right. Psychological sleep. You know. Is there any environmental factor? Socio-economic? You know, there’s just so many things that can impact an athlete, you know, just even beyond nutrition. So it’s really interesting when you do come together because everyone plays their part. You know, to the holistic approach of improving performance and overall health. [00:22:08][71.4]
[00:22:08] You know, you mentioned something there and it was the sleep, the recovery time, the ability for someone to…� [00:22:15][7.1]
[00:22:16] I mean, without getting too theological. You know, the designer intended for us to have sleep, but we were reversed if pressed if we’re having anxiousness, if we have a rise in cortisol, abnormal flux between, you know, the cortisol and the melatonin in the brain, you don’t rest and you don’t repair. So how do we talk to them? How do you as a nutrition expert. Talk to them about how important sleep is? [00:22:47][30.9]
[00:22:48] Yeah. So I talk about sleep hygiene, you know, have conversations with, you know, what is that, sleep hygiene. [00:22:53][4.9]
[00:22:53] That sounds interesting. He has sleep hygiene. [00:22:55][1.5]
[00:22:55] It’s kind of like getting your bedtime routine. Right. So, you know, making sure that you yourself have good hygiene, that your sheets are clean. Those have hygiene. And, you know, the research shows having a cold room, generally 68 degrees Fahrenheit, a dark room, eliminating noise. [00:23:13][17.5]
[00:23:13] Oh, I’m starting to love everything that we really love. Okay. So way… [00:23:19][5.5]
[00:23:19] You got a lot of subjects there. Okay. So first of all, sleep hygiene. So no bugs in the bed and clean sheets. [00:23:24][4.7]
[00:23:24] Right. Exactly, talk to me about that. But so clean sheets have been determined to be so important, huh? [00:23:38][13.8]
[00:23:38] Yeah, it’s just good hygiene really does promote better sleep quality versus, I guess, going to bed dirty. Yes. Yes. So that shows, you know, that that’s important. And then, you know, you also look at blue light emission. Right. [00:23:56][17.9]
[00:23:57] So from your TV, your phone, tablet, whatever it is, you know, really trying to set a timer for yourself to put that down at a certain point before better getting the cool orange glasses that. [00:24:11][14.4]
[00:24:12] Yes, yes, yes, yes. [00:24:13][0.9]
[00:24:14] They can, you know, help the blue light go away. And so it says there’s some, you know, routines you can do and infer nutrition. You know you want to avoid processed foods. Higher fat foods would have height, saturated fat, trans fat. So those are going to be, you know, your fried foods, your baked goods. [00:24:34][20.0]
[00:24:35] You know. As you mentioned that you were talking about processed foods. Kenna, you’re right. You have a neat way of figuring out where processed foods are in the store. What is that way? [00:24:42][7.0]
[00:24:43] Oh, yes. To just when you’re grocery shopping. Shop along the edges of the store. Don’t go into the aisles, because as soon as you start going into aisles is when you start getting into all the processed foods, all of the added ingredients that aren’t necessarily good for you. So if you’re just trying to stay on the outside, that’s where you’re going to get most of your produce and your meats and everything you need just right on the outside. Don’t go in. [00:25:10][26.8]
[00:25:10] Don’t go in. Well, I’ll tell you what. You know, I, I realize that we have to go in there and we have to go into that area of the inner aisles. But the more organic, the more we can control our budget on the outside room and minimize the internal areas, specifically those areas where things are in bags. Those are the areas that are processed food. And we got to avoid those specifically if we’re trying to recover from an injury. Moms? Look, I know you’re the craziest of all people. You know, when we want our kids, we want our kids to be good. Little Bobby Little, you know, little Lincoln and Lincoln gets throttled in and Lincoln is young, the little boy who’s got a lot of energy. And if he gets thumped on the field. Right. What’s mom going to do? Oh, happy Lincoln. No, no. She’s gonna get on his own. [00:25:52][41.8]
[00:25:53] Well, I’ve seen most moms get all over their kids, but what they can do is they can give them proper nutrition and that’s an important part. And sleep hygiene is so important. And I don’t want to leave that subject because this is so cool. The sleeping process. And you were mentioning something about specifically about the sheets being clean. [00:26:11][18.7]
[00:26:13] … [00:26:38][25.4]
[00:26:39] Yes. So you want to get, you know, eight hours of sleep, if you can, some ages require more. So when you’re younger, you actually need closer to probably nine to ten as a child. And then as an adult, you know, you can have you don’t need as much because you’re not growing and developing. So but you still want to aim for eight, if not more. And then. And research has come out that if you have the luxury of taking a 30-minute nap during the day, and that also contributes to the overall quantity of your sleep. [00:27:09][29.3]
[00:27:09] … [00:27:49][39.2]
[00:27:49] Yes, a growth hormone is released when you’re sleeping. So when you get optimal hours of sleep, it allows that to fully develop and be produced properly. So. [00:28:01][11.5]
[00:28:02] So it worked for me the same way. Grow good. [00:28:12][9.7]
[00:28:14] Yes. So a growth hormone is been known to spill out of the bloodstream by the pineal gland. And at a certain time of night, a few hours in your sleep and man, that’s still it’s magical. It makes you grow. I mean, it really makes you grow. [00:28:28][13.4]
[00:28:28] And ain’t going to happen if you don’t get enough sleep. So as an athlete, it’s one of those things that nature has provided for us that provides a magical ability for just a natural way of healing. And so it’s important. So what else do we do for athletes in terms of recovery processes, in terms of assessing not only their sleep hygiene? [00:28:53][24.2]
[00:28:53] Okay. [00:28:53][0.0]
[00:28:54] You know, you really have to look at nutrient timing, too. So what is an athlete having to eat or drink right after a workout? And that plays a really important process and jumpstarting that recovery. So depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise, when it’s more moderate to high intensity, going to want to make sure that you have enough carbohydrate and protein because you would have used those energy stores up and depleted those in your muscles when you work out. So carbohydrate and protein allow you to refuel and, you know, regenerate those energy stores as well as the muscle. And so normally you have one a three to one ratio of carbohydrate to protein. So that would mean, you know, 60 grams of carbohydrate to 20 grams of protein. So if you have a nice tall glass of chocolate milk, you know, two cups about that. That should be adequate to refill and replenish those needs. [00:29:53][59.3]
[00:29:54] Chocolate milk. OK. Now you pick chocolate milk. Now, most people think it’s a bad thing. But tell me why it’s such a good thing. [00:29:59][5.5]
[00:30:00] Yeah. So it’s full of the macronutrients we talked about earlier. So it has good healthy fats so it’s natural. And then it also has an electrolyte. So electrolytes are used primarily you lose sodium through sweating. And so those are things you’re going to also need to replenish to make sure that you have optimal hydration after working now as well. And then there’s normally it’s fortified with different vitamins and minerals. So you hear a lot with bone health and drinking milk. Yes, it does have calcium and vitamin D, and a lot of times it has, you know, some other vitamins like vitamin A as well. So it’s just really you get everything in one you know, one beverage, which is awesome. [00:30:43][43.3]
[00:30:44] You had mentioned earlier something about calculating what each athlete needs. Do you have a certain formula that you use for that? Or how does A vary per athlete? Because even if they’re in the same sport, you know, they could be different positions and they that could vary what they need, right? [00:31:31][19.3]
[00:31:32] So you know, there’s one for females and for males. And from there that would give you just, you know, your energy needs, which takes into account age, height and weight. And so from there, you look at, you know, how active is this individual once I have their basic needs to just exist. Well, you don’t just exist. You move around, right. It takes energy to just get out of bed, brush your teeth, and then you start actually having physical activity exercising in there. The needs go up. Right. So with that, you know, you have a physical activity level. But also, you know, it’s great now that you have all these G.P.S. data. So whether it’s like a Fitbit, Garmin, even Apple health, if you have an iPhone, it tracks, you know, your steps or the distance you’ve gone. And so all that to calculate your calories burned, which has to be factored in and to the overall equation. Right. To properly assess needs. So then when you get to sports specific, you can you have all that data to determine what that person needs. But then you also have to look at your macronutrient needs are going to be different for sports. So, you know, a marathon runner, they’re going to need a lot higher carbohydrate intake versus your linemen football player. So those could take into account as well as protein and fat generally stay the same no matter what the sport is, just because, you know, you need a certain fat percentage just for, you know, essential fat storage in terms of each individual. [00:33:10][98.1]
[00:33:12] And I’m thinking like, oh, I’m thinking in football. I’m looking at a linebacker who is the metamorphic, really unbelievable athlete. Usually is against the fullback. [00:33:24][11.8]
[00:33:24] And then you have your center who looks a little different than the outside tackles. Right. [00:33:31][6.5]
[00:33:31] So the weight that we typically do this is through a BMI test in the NBA is basically the metabolic systems or bioimpedance assessments. Do you use those in the military to assess and to help the athletes with an awareness as to how much muscle, how much bone density, all that kind of stuff? Yeah. [00:33:51][19.9]
[00:33:51] So you mentioned BMI and that is used in the military as well as clinical settings to determine if individuals are healthier, unhealthy. But it actually is not the best way to determine that. Right. It doesn’t take into account gender. It doesn’t take into account age and or, you know, your body type body composition. So you mentioned biological analysis. That would be body composition. So body composition takes a look at that mass. You’re fat-free mass, which is also referred to as lean mass. And then you get a body fat percentage, which a lot of athletes tend to care about. Is their body fat? [00:34:27][35.9]
[00:34:28] Yeah, I do. Not at my age. [00:34:30][2.3]
[00:34:30] I do think there’s a lot of different methods and tools you can do to assess that. And that is really a better indicator for if an individual’s healthy or unhealthy. And in general, guidelines for a body fat percentage are different for males versus females. So, you know, a male, you really don’t want anything over 21 percent body fat female would be anything over 31 percent body fat that would be deemed unhealthy, more overweight or obese category. So anything under that, you know, is good, optimal. And then, you know, you have even lower end ranges. It’s typically you’re pretty athletic population so that there are different standards. And with the military, we have what’s called the bod pod, which measures air displacement, urge it measured by composition through air displacement, sorry. [00:35:23][52.5]
[00:35:24] And that when they get inside of. Yes. [00:35:26][2.7]
[00:36:06] So that is a method we could use. And it’s just a quick test. [00:36:11][4.1]
[00:36:11] It’s not invasive. So we’re not. Pinching your skin, you’re just getting into this pod. And then, you know, it measures through the air. It measures what your fat mass is, your lean mass, and then you get a body fat percentage and then the biological analysis. A common brand, you know, is InBody. And what you use, basically, you’re holding. I don’t know. [00:36:38][27.3]
[00:36:39] At a point. Impedance assessor. [00:36:41][2.0]
[00:36:42] Yeah. So it’s kind of like electrodes that get the electrical signal through. Yes. Yes. Nerves. Yeah. Yes. And so from that, it’s able to calculate your body composition as well. And it’s pretty quick. [00:36:54][11.8]
[00:36:54] It’s a lot more accessible and a, you know, a lower cost than a bod pod would be. So we do have that available as well. And then, you know, if you have a lot of resources, as some of the professional teams and collegiate programs, the DEXA is the gold standard for body composition. But, you know, it’s really not accessible. It’s pretty expensive. And the nice thing about that is you can just you know, it’s a minimal x-ray exposure, but you can wear loose-fitting clothing, as he talked to, worry too much about apparel. And then it’s just depending on that machine, it’s, you know, seven to twelve minutes scan. And then the cool thing about it, it doesn’t only just break down your body composition, but it looks at a bone mineral density so you can actually see how strong your bones are. And it’s a good tool to have that. If you have hopefully a scan prior to a stress fracture, you can actually take a scan post-stress fracture and see, you know, where your bone mineral density was prior to the injury and try to work back to that. [00:38:06][71.5]
[00:38:06] You know, the DEXA test has been the gold standard for osteoporosis at the hips. And it’s what we use all the time to determine if they’re improving with whatever they’re doing. If the numbers changed drastically in one or other direction, hopefully it’s so sensitive that we can actually see the better, I guess, the deterioration of the bone density. So, you know, doctors that do, let’s say, hip replacements, they do that because they want to know what they’re going to be working on and if this bone is going to be brittle or not. And it’s a great way of doing things. We have discussed the pod and the different types of things like in the InBody. And what we’ve come up with is that simplicity is probably the fastest. And by the DEXA the cost as well as the pod, the complications of finding a facility also. The U.S. military. But the embody seems to be a really great way of doing that. Euterpe has those and they use those for and their personal trainers and their fitness and physical therapist to do that. So it is a really good way. And maybe it’s not as accurate as a pod, but it comes within one percent. But here’s a cool thing. It’s consistently accurate. So in other words, even if it’s one percent difference, it stays that one percent difference. So you can see variations. So I’m glad that they do that. And then the U.S. military now on the models have improved, you know, over time too. [00:39:22][76.1]
[00:39:22] So they’re getting more and more accurate. [00:39:23][1.1]
[00:39:24] Yes. Yes. Yeah. Let me ask you, in terms of the military in terms of how you train the athletes, because you’re part of us now. You’re, we’ve got, you know, one of the things about El Paso is that once you live here about three to four years, you become part of the community and people start knowing about you. Tell me what you want them to know about you. OK. Because this whole podcast is about you. And we want them to know what kind of resources, how they connect. I’ve seen your website. It’s a beautiful website. It’s got really cool information there. And I do recommend it. It’s tayloredforperformance.com, where you can see her there and she’s actually doing some training with some athletes and. But tell us what they can look for in terms of you as an individual and why would someone seek you out and what kind of things do you like to work with? Are your like thing that you enjoy? [00:40:16][51.6]
[00:40:17] Yes. So my thing would be working with the athletes or just someone who is interested in… [00:40:22][5.2]
[00:40:22] Okay, moms, you hear that you want little Bobby to get stronger and Lincoln. Okay. Well, you know what? Okay. Go ahead. Continue. [00:40:27][5.1]
[00:40:28] And so, you know, I’m all about individualized personalized nutrition. So really tailored nutrition to improve your overall performance and health. So that is what you’re going to get from me, whether you seek me out on my Web site, you know, Instagram, whatever, you know that that is what I offer. So whether that is to improve, you know, your body composition, you have weight goals, maybe you want to lose weight, you want to gain weight, and you’re struggling to do that. You know, maybe you have some food allergies or food intolerances, different food sensitivities. I can help you through that. [00:41:07][39.3]
[00:41:08] What does that mean now that you touched on that subject? That cherry is not going to go by without me plucking it. OK. So food sensitivities, what does that mean? [00:41:15][7.5]
[00:41:15] Tell me, yeah. So, you know, you could have a big one is right, lactose intolerance. So you might not completely have a dairy allergy. Right. Or completely lactose intolerant. One hundred percent. You might be able to have different variations of dairy. It’s normally has to do with the portion size. So maybe you can only have a cup of milk instead of having milk throughout the day, you know, and it doesn’t bother your digestive system. You’re having a upset stomach. Anything like that, glutens another one. So celiacs disease, people that can’t have gluten products. So, you know, you might have sensitivity to gluten. [00:41:55][39.5]
[00:41:56] That’s been big on the news lately. Why is that? Why is gluten so in, like, crazy like all over the news? And what are the things that we can do? Because it appears that gluten just is horrible. And I want to put it in perspective for people from an athletic point of view. [00:42:11][15.1]
[00:42:12] Yes. So gluten, you know, if you don’t have a sensitivity to it, you really want to encourage having it, because that’s going to be your carbohydrates. It’s going to be your primary source of energy. Right. There are foods that are gluten-free that will still give you the carbohydrates that you need for performance so that those are things, you know, you really want to sit down and figure out exactly how sensitive you are to that, because for an athlete, you really need that to perform best as well as recover. [00:42:42][29.8]
[00:42:44] Taylor, if we have an individual who is gluten sensitive or food sensitive or different foods or different issues with different types of varieties, how is it that we can pinpoint that in your experience, that you’ve done the pinpoint, the actual thing that’s the culprit causing the food sensitivity? Because I a lot of people say I eat this and I just feel bloated. I feel sick. [00:43:04][19.8]
[00:43:05] I don’t feel my food. My brain is foggy after I eat the foods. What are the things that we can do to assess and kind of come up with a plan that is of a higher level than just say stop eating? [00:43:15][10.2]
[00:43:16] Yeah. So sometimes it’s really hard to pinpoint exactly what food it is that is causing the issues because generally you don’t just have one food group by itself. So if you’re having a meal, you’re not just going to have the pasta. Right. You’re going to have maybe a protein with that and maybe the sauce and different things. So it can be tricky. But a way to try to determine what it is causing those G.I. issues is you focus on the one food group. So you would try to have it by itself and then, okay, you see if you have any symptoms, maybe 30 minutes up to a few hours afterward. And then if you don’t have any symptoms, then you move on to the next food group and that’s how you can assess or pinpoint. [00:44:01][44.8]
[00:44:02] So let’s say it’s albumin like an egg. You would be able to track it down. If you stop eating the food and you start, you feel better, right? Yeah. That’s your. Gotcha. [00:44:09][6.8]
[00:44:10] Well, I got to tell you, there’s a lot of technology that I did not realize that’s out there specifically regarding food sensitivities. And we talk about it often. And it’s really great to see the role-play of interdisciplinary approaches that you have. You know, one of the things that are about an interdisciplinary over practice is you have dietitians, you have orthopedics, you have physical rehab people. You have people that can understand the deepest understandings of genetics because the tests are easily run. This is to find out the susceptibility that the homozygous, the heterozygous genes, the snips, what they call, you know, singular nucleic polymorphisms, is that what they call it? What the word is? Right. [00:44:48][38.4]
[00:44:49] SNPs are really allowed to further assess where the person’s predispositions are. It’s really cool that you’re here. So when you’re saying about that, you talk to people and then you work with people, do you do telemedicine as well? [00:45:04][15.4]
[00:45:05] Yes, I actually am right now. Just because of COVID-19 restrictions. But yes. [00:45:11][5.3]
[00:45:11] So I can do things virtually whether that’s over a Zoom call, a phone call, email. [00:45:18][7.0]
[00:45:19] What’s the phone number you can call so I can. Because I’m going to put it all over the place, what’s, what’s a good number that you like. [00:45:23][4.7]
[00:45:25] I’ll do it later then. OK. OK. So what. We’ll do that, you know, an email. Right. [00:45:30][4.2]
[00:45:30] You know, first of all, a lot of things that we’ve learned is that she works with a lot of your unique athletes, people on there, that sounds like a special force out there so that she’s really connected with the science of dealing with the most elite athlete. So her privacy is very important. So that makes sense. All right. Not that I don’t want people calling me that. Well, I’ll tell you what. You know what? It’s very important to see what you have. You know what? If I was watching this. There is no way that I would not find you. I would find you. You know, Taylor Lyle. And I would make sure I’d nail you and then you at that point, we would call you and say, you know, little Bobby, little Lincoln, little Alex. You know what? They need some help here. Because you know what? We’ve got a lot of people that want the best for their kids, and these athletes are just incredible. So you have that knowledge and the way to sit down and work with moms and dads, primarily moms, because moms don’t want little Lincolns to get thumped. I use Lincoln because it’s Kenna’s little boy and he’s a special little energy machine. So one of the things is, is that we want to do is figure out what we other what other ways do you communicate with your clientele? [00:46:36][66.3]
[00:47:09] OK, perfect. We can find you that way because I’ll be a follower and we’ll be following those ideas. It’s very important to stick together a little bit of background. El Paso has been a town where it’s been very segregated, but now it’s getting very well connected. And the talent that is coming from afar. You came from Oklahoma. From Dallas. Where else did you go? [00:47:29][19.7]
[00:47:30] South Carolina. West Virginia. Or again, I was in England at one point. [00:47:36][5.8]
[00:47:36] It sounds like a song you have really everywhere. You kind of have raked up knowledge. Yeah, I have. [00:47:43][6.1]
[00:47:43] And now you brought me here to El Paso, right? Yes. So, I mean, from England to Dallas Cowboys to the rooms to the furthest places you bring it to El Paso for us, we feel very privileged. I know. I speak for Canada too. But I can say that she’s very knowledgeable and we need people like this around El Paso. And I got to tell you, it did not exist 10 years ago. Not that not to this level. Maybe a little bit more 10 years ago, but 20 years ago when I first came to town. It was not existent, this kind of intense knowledge. What brought you to you? You were recruited just to go back a little bit on that. You were recruited. [00:48:20][36.6]
[00:48:33] I get to help create some of the policies and procedures and just how we operate as a department. So it’s me, straight couples training, conditioning coaches, athletic trainer, and physical therapists. So we operate as a performance team. So, yeah, it’s pretty cool. And so, you know, it’s was closer to home for me. I wanted to add my experience was in collegiate professional athletes, so I really wanted to tap into the military tactical athlete. And just, you know, really broad in my practice. So. [00:49:07][34.0]
[00:49:08] Well, the famous Taylor Lyles here. OK. And as she becomes the gold standard of fitness. Tell me where you’re headed. What kind of things are you headed for and what’s looking at what’s the future hold for you and the total experience of what you’ve done in the past. [00:49:23][14.4]
[00:49:24] Yes. So the future I’m actually, you know, set here for performance right now. As I said, I cater to elite athletes trying to take our nutrition and improve their performance and health. And I’m in the process of developing an app right now. So that’s really exciting for me. Hopefully, I can disclose more when it’s, you know, finish with development. You know, it’s like the first time next year. So that’s what I have going on personally and then, you know, professionally with my full-time job. I think that, you know, I definitely get to stay in the military sector. Even tapping more special forces would be very, very exciting. [00:50:02][38.2]
[00:50:03] Can you talk about that? Can you talk about the experiences that you have in Special Forces? Because I’ve got to tell you, all these athletes, they will one day be adults. And the rustler’s, the high football players, the linebackers, those are the ones that go into special forces when they go the military. So how is it like to deal with them on the adult version of crazy athletes? [00:50:20][16.8]
[00:50:20] Intense athletes? Yes. So along with combat forces and professional athletes, it’s different. You know, you don’t just have you know, they typically have a family or they have other things going on in their life besides just themselves that they have to consider. So if a little bit more variation, more real-life experience, and application. Right. So it’s different, but it’s exciting. You can get a little bit more technical with them and, you know, they’re just more likely to do it sometimes. Although, you know, you have your younger athletes, too, that want to get better and want to look like whoever their idol is, that may be a professional athlete or, you know, so that they will do what it takes to get to that level of performance. And an athlete. [00:51:11][51.0]
[00:51:12] I know that a lot of the military members have to eat like emissaries and stuff like that when they’re in the field. Have you noticed a change in their performance or anything like that when they come back since those meals aren’t? I mean, I’m sure they’re not quite what. Yeah. Nutritional standards. They did the job, but. [00:51:32][19.5]
[00:51:32] … [00:52:04][2.0]
[00:52:04] Have you ever seen one that has a lot of different components? There’s, it depends on what you get. But a lot of times say it’s a pocket that’s already like powdered. Right. And he really you have to add the liquid and then they actually have this like heating pad. So you can heat up. But it’s still it’s you’re not having you’re having a lot of dehydrated foods that you’re heating up. [00:52:28][23.2]
[00:52:28] And that would be ended with Zentner Process Foods. Is it more processed? How is it? Yeah. How has that? I guess because the military is can take care of its people. [00:52:35][7.4]
[00:52:36] Right, with Embry’s. How have they balanced the or maybe it’s a question that no one knows because it seems like a top-secret. But the ability to make food, not with preservatives, but still good quality for these individuals in the sense of following the most holistic approach for their health. [00:52:54][18.1]
[00:52:55] ... [00:53:38][4.5]
[00:53:40] And sometimes they’ll have a little like a bar, protein bar or they’ll have like a, you know, bag of pretzels. So they get other things besides just that, you know, main entree option, too. [00:53:52][11.3]
[00:53:53] Yeah, well, I got to tell you, it’s been a joy. I can go on for like another two hours talking. And we’ve been in an hour, by the way. [00:53:59][6.8]
[00:54:01] Yeah. [00:54:01][0.0]
[00:54:02] It doesn’t seem that way. We’re having. Fine. I want to bring you back in and I know you have a lot of friends that are in the world of fitness. We love to hear what El Paso has to offer not only to present you guys and to showcase you as an individual primarily but also for the awareness of El Paso to see what kind of options are. It doesn’t matter that you may be in the military. [00:54:24][22.2]
[00:54:24] You offer a lot of knowledge and little moms and more moms with little Lincolns. [00:54:29][5.2]
[00:54:30] I use it as an example. They want the best for their kids and they’re not going to put up with little Lincoln and thumped. So one of the things is I want to give my child the best. I know that you mentioned things like chocolate milk, right? Yeah. To me, that’s good. But I’ve also noticed that people that like wrestlers that are that cut. And there, let’s say one hundred and thirty-eight and they got to go to 112. Right. Those guys at 112. They break. They break from doing that. And if they have the proper nutrition through the process, specifically the micronutrients and the macronutrients through the process, you’re going to send your kid through a hurricane and you’re a hurricane fighter. When those airplanes that go into the deep hurricane, you got to make sure the bolts are on that airplane really well. If the kid has poor nutrition and he goes into a battle, he’s going to snap and you’re going to see it in form of a broken ankle. You’re gonna see it in a snap shoulder, a clavicle dislocation. It’s going to come out that way because, you know, these nutritional insights are very good, like chocolate milk. My secret was from my kid. It was insured just because it was old for the old people, good enough for the old people. And the kids don’t want to you know, they want to carry chocolate milk on them, but they’ll puppet and sure. Between classes. But the point is micronutrition, macronutrition, and making sure that each child has the right stuff. So I really appreciate the fact that you brought this to our light because it’s information that I want to go over. So I really want you to come back and to come back and you’re gonna get to enjoy because we’re gonna make you, you know, gonna put you everywhere. [00:56:01][90.9]
[00:56:09] So we’re gonna put it everywhere so people can see it. And we’re very proud to have you because of this kind of experience that you really are international at this point, right? Because again, you’ve gone all over the place. Right. It sounds like a pitbull song. So it really is something special. And I really look forward to having you back with people so that we can discuss even more complex issues. Yeah, because I know you know a lot about BMI. The deep sciences. We have a lot of highly intelligent individuals here. We got UTEP, we got engineers everywhere. We got the people with thick glasses that will tell you about, you know, the macronutrients, micronutrients at the molecular level. So what we want to do is we want to bring that kind of knowledge here and showcase what practicality comes. Because it’s so good that it’s in a book. We need people to explain it to us. And I really appreciate you coming up and sharing that with us. Any other comments as to what you want to leave us with? [00:57:06][56.2]
[00:57:07] Just thanks so much for having me. It’s been really a pleasure just talking to you guys. And if there are any questions anyone has, please feel free to reach me at my Web site. That’s tayloredforperformance.com. And then again at my Instagram taylor_lyle. So thank you so much for your time. [00:57:27][20.3]
[00:57:27] Yes. We’re really appreciative of you. And go where we can see ourselves here. And we’re here in the little podcast. And though we’re experiencing a little bit of social distancing. [00:57:37][9.7]
[00:57:54] But anyway, thank you so much. And we definitely look forward to having you back as you’ve been a really great source of just being a fun conversation. Thank you so much. And we look forward to having it. [00:58:04][10.0]
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