The Starting Blocks

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Sports Drinks - Who are they Really For?

There are articles every day about sports drinks in schools, children drinking them in class, high school kids and college aged adults drinking them by the gallon, being offered in vending machines on school grounds, being the drink of choice, being a "fad" drink...

Sports drinks are for athletes who are exerting themselves beyond measure!

Sports drinks are NOT for students who are sitting in study hall or classes doing lessons!

Sports drinks are supposed to be full of calories and carbohydrates! Calories and carbohydrates are essential when you're burning them. When you are sitting in class at school you need brain food, NOT muscle food.

Brain food consists of, but is not limited to: Vitamin B complex (don't let anyone tell you to get an unbalanced vitamin B... B vitamins MUST be balanced), Vitamin E, Selenium and Lecithin.

Calories and carbs are NOT in the list! The powerhouse sports nutrition manufacturers may be getting a piece of the schoolhouse market, but the powerhouse sports nutrition manufacturers don't care about your health, and they certainly don't care about your athletic dreams.

When you drink a sports drink inappropriately, you are compounding tooth decay, you are compounding your possibility of high blood pressure, you are compounding your likeliness of diabetes, your are compounding your chances of heart disease and obesity, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression and.... do you really want to wait to see what next year's scientific tests come up with? Or maybe you want to wait for ten years.

If you're not running yourself silly... why are you drinking a SPORTS drink?

Sports drinks are for athletes. Not for some fad that makes the fat cats rich.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 6:19 PM 3 comments

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Should Drinks Like Gatorade Sport the 'Junk Food' Label?

"Public health advocates want the standards to ban the sale of Gatorade and Powerade, which typically contain as much as two-thirds the sugar of sodas and more sodium, as well as sweetened waters such as VitaminWater and SoBe Life Water. Excessive sodium intake by young people could fuel a surge in high blood pressure, which until recently was considered a health threat only in later life, they said." Source

Sports drinks are intended to help the athlete perform. To have these available on school grounds, in vending machines, for kids to drink while they sit through their classes is not the optimal atmosphere for these products.

When manufacturers claim that the lower caloric value is "good" for kids, they are purposely ignoring the other elements of "sports drinks". They are purposely attempting to attract a market that isn't suitable for the product... And they're succeeding.

View this comparison of sports drinks, by the University of Arizona.

See previous post

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 8:34 AM 1 comments

Monday, September 24, 2007

Enhanced Water - Questionable

"Bottled water, one of the most popular beverages on the market, now comes purified, remineralized, electrolyte-enhanced and infused with vitamins, minerals, herbs and oxygen. Are these souped-up products worth it? Or are you better off sipping a glass of Emergen-C?

We asked several registered dietitians, who agreed that the health claims for enhanced waters are "iffy" and that food is a far better source of nutrients. Consumers, meanwhile, should watch out for added sweeteners and calories.

"None of the ingredients are harmful," said Kris Clark, director of sports nutrition and assistant professor of nutrition at Penn State University. "The question consumers should ask themselves include: Are the ingredients useful to me? Do I need these ingredients? Or do I just need water?"

Chances are, you just need plain old water."


Quoted from the Chicagotribune.com

Watch the claims, watch the ingredients.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 2:10 PM 0 comments

Nandrolone explained

"Tennis player Greg Rusedski tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone, but was found not guity of doping.

So what is nandrolone, and how is it detected in the human body?

Are tests for nandrolone conclusive?


Even though a drug test may indicate that the subject has apparently taken nandrolone to boost muscle growth and increase strength, this does not necessarily prove wrongdoing.

It is possible that the body may naturally create a form of nandrolone, particularly if the subject has eaten large quantities of meat contaminated with the substance.

Certain animals may create a bigger risk, particularly horse and boar - and athletes are warned to avoid offal from these animals."


Taken from Source

Nandrolone is used to stimulate bone marrow production and muscle building in animals. It is a veterinary medicine that you may be consuming unknowingly.

This is simply more evidence in favor of the organic/free-range food industry.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:26 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 21, 2007

Water - Friend or Foe?

"Fluoride is a known toxin, slightly less toxic than arsenic and more poisonous than lead. The industrial chemicals used to fluoridate over 90 percent of fluoridated water in the United States, (fluorosilicate acid and sodium silicofluoride), are by-products of the phosphate fertilizer industry and have never been tested for safety or effectiveness. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA), has declared the substance to be a hazardous waste and made it illegal to dump at sea." Source

Fluoride is a micronutrient. We need a minuscule amount to achieve the benefits we're looking for.

Large amounts of fluoride is used to kill rodents. This is why fluoride is categorized in the medical world as a poison. Too much fluoride intake by humans cause the bones to become brittle and less fracture-resistant because this is where excess fluoride in the body accumulates.

Other known side effects of fluoride over-dose:
1 - Disrupts the synthesis of collagen.
2 - Leads to breakdown in the bone, tendon, skin, cartilage, lungs, trachea, and kidney.
3 - Inhibits the formation of antibodies in the blood.
4 - Has a disruptive effect on various tissues in the body.
5 - Confuses the immune system causing it to attack its own tissues.

Water is essential to the serious athlete... Good quality water with no harmful additives is what is essential to the serious athlete.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:57 AM 0 comments

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Sports drinks, lots of sugar, salt

"The growing share of so-called sports drinks are little more than sugar water with added salt, said Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington." Read more...

My dentist and I recently had a discussion on this topic. The majority of tooth decay in kids these days is due to sports drinks. Many sports drinks have more sugar content than soda, which contributes to tooth decay. But what's more, these kids sip on sports drinks all day, meaning their teeth don't get a break from the sugary liquid.

Sports drinks are intended to be ingested after a long workout, not during study hall.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 11:21 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Bodies of Water

Curt's wife wrote the following. Even though she is not at all athletic (in any way, shape or form), I think she wrote something that is very appropriate for "The Starting Blocks".

People have different percentages of water in their bodies
depending on age, gender and diet.

New born babies are comprised of the largest percentage
of water, at about 78%. By one year of age, that amount
reduces to about 65%.

Adult men have an average of 60% of water in their bodies.

Adult women carry about 55%.

Fat tissue does not hold as much water as lean tissue. So
the more overweight a person is, the less water they are
comprised of.

Even an average percentage of water in the body should cause concern over water quality issues. If you have 55% water in your body wouldn't you want it to be as pure as possible?


How much good, pure, non-contaminated water does an athlete need?

"Water is the most neglected nutrient in your diet but one of the most vital." - Kelly Barton

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 3:43 PM 0 comments

More Recalls

US, Canadian pork rejected

So, is this a pissing contest? Are we going to see which country has the most recalled products? Maybe Las Vegas can start taking bets on this.

The crazy part of the whole thing is that no one on this planet, doesn't matter what country they're from, wants products that are contaminated in some way. I'm not terribly sure what those growth hormones and veterinary drugs are doing in my meat.

Maybe we're trying to support bearded women?

Those growth hormones have been banned in Europe and China for quite a few years. It makes me curious as to why we haven't banned them here.

Veterinary drugs? I'm in the doghouse often (the cost of being married), but I'm fairly sure I don't need the same medications a dog needs.

Athletes need the best quality food we can get. Eating residue from animal growth hormone and veterinary drugs is not my idea of "quality food".

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 11:25 AM 0 comments

Monday, September 17, 2007

Rising Star - Jason Regier

Jason Regier is another quad rugby player (aka murderball). He is an exceptional picker and really shines on the court. He is one the elite players who will be seen in Beijing next summer.

We can give Jason at least partial credit for where this sport is today. His love for quad rugby not only shows on the court but also in his tireless efforts to promote it.

Murderball isn't the only movie promoting quad rugby. The Goal is a drama which highlights quad rugby in the story of one player.

If you haven't seen a quad rugby game, you're missing out!

Good luck Jason and Chance!

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 3:51 PM 0 comments

Recovery!

The stuff Curt is made of! Or rather, the stuff that allowed Curt to continue his sport.

After a 30 minute high-energy workout he would drink this within 5 minutes. Curt would then have a second drink 2 hours later. During tournaments, he would take this 5 minutes after each game, again 2 hours after the last game, and then again about 30 minutes before bed.

A cyclist friend of ours does the same recovery routine after cycling the Triple Bypass.

Tip: If you are looking to gain weight, a 3rd drink is recommended. If you are looking to reduce weight, or maintain your weight class, take a 3rd drink ONLY after extreme exertion.

This is also a Kosher certified product.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:06 AM 2 comments

Friday, September 14, 2007

Shaklee Sponsors Arctic Explorer Will Steger's...

Shaklee Sponsors Arctic Explorer Will Steger's Latest Expedition on Climate Change

This is an unusual sport to list on The Starting Blocks, but extreme exploration takes the same physical, emotional and mental aspects as any serious athlete. Will Steger is one of those who speaks softly but carries a great big stick. If the political aspects of global warming don't appeal to you, Will Steger's message may.

Will Steger with dog sled

Putting the Earth First

A Day in the Life (I personally enjoy my life of luxury too much to attempt a day in his life, but I am very glad to have him in my world)

Fuel the Expeditions

Will Steger

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 4:05 PM 0 comments

Thursday, September 13, 2007

21st Century Expectations

We live in a time when we seem to be responsible for the actions or neglect of others. Take this article for example. Quote: "Each swimmer is responsible for understanding what is on the banned substance list and what substances they are introducing to his/her body."

In a previous post I cited another article that reported the actions of Powerbar. They changed the formula in their bars and neglected to tell the very people who counted on their products. If the makers of Powerbar don't have a current list of banned substances, then what business do they have making sports nutrition products?

If an athlete must be intimately familiar with the list of banned substances, then common sense dictates the manufacturers should be doubly knowledgeable for the sake of the athletes they supposedly support.

Your athletic dreams, your athletic hopes, your athletic improvement depends on sports nutrition. Yet we see your athletic dreams, your athletic hopes and your athletic improvement are all absolutely meaningless in the face of $$$Profit$$$.

How careful are you about the products you are taking? How careful is the manufacturer of the products you are taking?

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 3:03 PM 1 comments

Being Oh So Careful

Taken from this article:

The NCAA warns that many over-the-counter nutritional and dietary supplements contain banned substances, which is why Peters avoids them.
“It’s a long list, and I’ve never taken any supplements because there are so many banned substances out there that I’ve never wanted to risk it,” he said. “I know other guys on the team who use the normal stuff like Creatine and go into GNC, grab the stuff, go down the list and check each one off to make sure there isn’t one on (the label).
“The guys are really careful of what they take. At times you hear professional athletes going, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that was in there,’ and half the time I believe them.”


A serious athlete has to be so careful about what they take! Some of them choose not to take anything!

The company we are affiliated with offers letters of proof. We offer a solemn promise to respect and honor your athletic dreams and hopes. The products we promote are proven through testing and experience. You don't have to choose to take nothing, you can choose to take what is good for your body and have the assurance no banned substances will be sneaked into the batch for profit sake.

View clinical study of our performance drink.

View clinical study of our recovery drink.

View doctor's reference of our protein drink with a whopping 24 grams of protein!

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:50 AM 0 comments

About Us - Curt Garrett

Curt is a retired quad rugby (aka murderball) player. He's one of the "old boys". His rugby career started in 1993 and his love for the game was immediate and intense.

Curt was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the age of 2. He deals with pain on a daily basis. Playing such a hard-hitting sport, intensified his pain. His recovery time was noticeably excruciating and almost intolerable. But, he loved the sport too much to quit.

Some dear friends introduced him to a recovery drink, hoping it would help him. His recovery time was reduced from days to hours. The pain he used to experience during his recovery became manageable.

He is now working to let others know that recovery doesn't have to be long or painful.

Curt still uses this recovery drink whenever he over-exerts himself. It will work whether you've just mowed your lawn or participated in a decathlon.

Contact Curt if you have any questions. Or give it a try and tell us your story.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 8:37 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Testimonial on benefits of Physique for the elderly

As you know, the nutritional needs of mature individuals is unique. Digestion, muscle mass and hormonal regulation tend to decrease. Body fat and blood cholesterol levels tend to increase. Cardiovascular efficiency, blood sugar regulation and energy levels tend to decrease. This observation seems to be related to the aging process and made us ask the question "What factor seems to have the greatest effect on aging?"

After two years of recommending Physique to 210 elderly patients (men and women between 65 and 84) at this clinic we noticed some amazing results that we would like to share with you.

*1) 72% of people over 65 years of age who began using Physique daily had an increase in energy and * more muscle mass after 6 months.
*2) Sugar regulation in those who had been hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic returned to normal in 56% * of the cases within 3 months after starting daily use of Physique.
*3) 60% of all elderly patients following our recommended exercises had less muscle and joint ** symptoms within 3 months after daily use of Physique.

These findings can only suggest that Shaklee Physique is a very useful addition to the nutritional program of the elderly population who are physically active and taking positive steps to maintain their health. When maximizing the diet and regularly supplementing, significant benefits can be gained by the elderly using Physique.

We are very excited about these findings and hope that mature people and not just young people will take advantage of this outstanding product.

Richard Brouse, M.A., D.C.

View this article.

If this is the effect you can achieve when you're older, what can you expect as a younger athlete?

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 7:50 AM 0 comments

Monday, September 10, 2007

Rising Star - Chance Sumner

"Sumner is one of the best murderballers in the nation." Read more...

Find out more about Chance Sumner here.

If you have never seen a game of Quad Rugby you are missing out. It's a hard-hitting, fast-paced sport, that will keep your adrenaline pumping.

You can find a game in your area here. Or, pick up a copy of Murderball, this may open your eyes to a whole new world.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:52 AM 0 comments

A TOUGH UPHILL CLIMB

Here is an article of the true sporting spirit. Low Ji Wen takes desire to a whole new level.

This article explains only a few of the hurdles athletes must cross in order to gain the heights they dream of.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 7:32 AM 0 comments

Friday, September 7, 2007

In Fond Memory of Art Levy

Art Levy, a co-founder of "The Starting Blocks", passed on September 4, 2007. He held the DPS record in the 100-yard dash at 9.6 and a record in the 220-yard dash of 20.9. A true athlete as well as a true friend. He would break all records running to your side when you needed him.

Family was his priority. He was always the one with the annoying cell phone in a meeting, or at the movies. If any of his children or grandchildren were in distress, the movie could wait, the meeting was over.

Art had a wonderful career working with children at Denver Parks and Rec. In his spare time, he ran track and field programs. In his spare, spare time he worked with individuals as a Shaklee Independent Distributor, hoping to "improve their game". He was a mentor to everyone he met. He was loved and cherished by everyone.

His 5 beautiful daughters, eleven grandchildren, and many more to come are left with his legacy.

We are honored to have known and worked with Art Levy. We wish all of you could have known this wonderful, gentle person. This blog is dedicated to Art Levy, and was begun in memory of him and his passion.

He will be greatly missed.

Denver Post announces tribute to Art Levy

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 9:20 PM 1 comments

Doping: Banned substances

"However, I would be surprised if an experienced athlete did that because they know how vigilant they need to be."

"A lot of these products are not produced by the major drug houses and nobody can vouch for the way they are prepared,or for their purity."

Read the entire article...

We are experiencing product recalls on a weekly basis these days. Companies are proving they don't have our best interest at heart. Profits are king.

*83,000 tests on ingredients each year and a 100-point inspection, award-winning pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing facility. Proven track record of keeping the customer first. A company with a conscience is a rare company these days.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 10:20 AM 0 comments

NCAA Banned Substances

..."Many nutritional/dietary supplements contain NCAA banned
substances. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) does not strictly regulate the supplement industry; therefore
purity and safety of nutritional dietary supplements cannot be
guaranteed. Impure supplements may lead to a positive NCAA drug
test..." Read more here.

Would you like to hear about a company who does 83,000 tests a year on product purity and safety?

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 6:56 AM 0 comments

Thursday, September 6, 2007

Carbohydrate Products and Energy for Athletes

This study done by an honors biology class at U of A, proves the practical applications of these products

"For many athletes, especially those who compete in endurance sports, drinking liquids that will replenish the amount of carbohydrate being used by the body is essential." This sports drink comparison could be a valuable tool when deciding which one to use.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 3:01 PM 0 comments

By the book: CU's Manning tracks compliance

..."The company had changed the ingredients in its Powerbars in August 2006 and failed to inform the school..." Read the entire article here.

Can you bet your athletic career on companies who don't respect you? Any one of the athletes who participated in this nutritional fiasco would have tested positive for banned substances.

Consider this argument: If a company has a product line which is advertised as being compliant with banned substance regulations, and also has a product line which is less restricted... Do they make their products out of the same vats? Is it at all possible that trace elements from the less restricted products could show up in the products you need to be taking?

How careful are you being about the nutritional supplements you're taking? How careful is the company who makes those products?

Here is a bit of information to consider before you are a victim of a career destroying mistake.

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posted by The Starting Blocks at 12:16 PM 0 comments